The Conrenrs,

I' i I

SEC T. XX.

How fsrr« the Religifln of the Church of Rome is

To/,raNe., pag.24te

51> C T. X X I.

@fthe duty of particular Churches in allowing Com.

munion, pag.:a6z.

SECT. XXII.

ThAt particulAr men may commllnicate with Churches of different perfwiljiom, .nd how fiJrre the) may doe it, pag.264·

OF

.1

I

I

I

OF

T 1-1 ELI BE R T y~ OF

PROPHESYING.

aHe infinite variety of Opinions in matters of Religion, as they have troubled Chriflendome, with inrcrefls , faCtions, and parrialuies , fo have they caufed great divifions of the heart • and variety of thoughts and delignes amongll: pious and prudent men. F or they all feeing the inconveniences which the difunion of perfwafions and Opinions have produced dircctry Of accidentally, have thought rhem.elves obliged ,to flop this inundation of mikhiefes , and !,ave made arremprsaccordingly, But "it hath hapned to molt of them as to a mitiaken l'hyillian. who gives excellent phyfick but mif applies it, and fo mifles of his cure; Io have [~.e:e men, their attempts have therefore been ineffeCluall ; [or. they put their help to a wrong pan, or they have endeavoured [.0 cu,e. the ,Jympwmes, and have lee the direate == rill ir feemd incurable, SOl11e have endeavoured to re-umre there

A fratHom

I

, ,

I',

',.1 .

The Liberty of Prophefjing.

frat1iolls by propoullding fuch a Guide which they were all bound to follow; hoping that the Unity of a Guide, would have per. fwadedunity ofm!ndes;buc who this Guide (houldbe at latl became fueh a ~llion, that it was made paIt of the fire that was to be quenched; fo farre was it from extlnguifhing any part or the flame. Others thought ofa Rule, and this mutt be the meanes of Union, or nothing co~ld doe it. But. fuppoiing all the World had been agreed of this Rule, yet the interpretation of it was 10 full of variety, that this allo became part of the dileafe , for which the cure was pretended. All men reColv'd npon this, that rhough they yet had not hit upon the right, yet forne way muft be thonght upon to reconcile differences in Opinion, thinking fo long as this variety Ihould laft, Chrifls King. dome was not advanced, and the work of the Gofpel went on but flowly: Few men in the mean time coniidered,that fo long as men had fuch variety of principles, fuch feverall conflirurionr, educations, tempers, and ditlempers, hopes, imeretls, and weaknefles, dq~rees of light, and degrees of underflanding , it was impoffible all fl10uld be of one minde, And what is impoffible to be done, is not neceffary it Ihould be done: And therefore, although variety of 0 pinions was impoffible to be cured (and they who attempted it, did like him who claps his fhoulder to the ground to Hop an earth-quake) yet the inconveniences arinng from ir might poffibly be cured. not by uniting their be. liefes, thar was to be ditpaird of, but by curing that which caui'd thefe miCcfriefes, and accidenrall inconveniences of their dir· agreeings. For although thefe inconveniences which every man fees and feeles were coniequent to this diver6ty of perllvalions, yet it was but accidentally and by chance, in as much as Vlee lee that in many things, and they of great concernment. men alow to rhemfelves and to each other a liberty of difagreeing. and no hurt neither.: And c~~ta~nely .ifdiverfity of Opinions, were of it felfe the caufe of mlichletes it would be fo ever, [hac is, regularly and nniverfally (but that we fee it is not:) For there are difpures in ChriHendome concerning matters of grealeI' concernment then mall of thoCe Opini1lns chat diainguilh Sed~, and make faaions; and yet ~cauie men are permitted to qi[or in thol~ great mauers , fuci1 evills are not cOIlll:quent to

. - .- -- _. __ .- - .. - .... -.. ,-.~ ... -- - . -.- fucll

TN L;~ertJ of prlJphe!Y'ng.

~~==~~~~~~~~~ ~_.3

fuch ditfert;nces ~ ·as are to the uncharitable managing of fmaller

and ~ore ~o~derable Cl!!e~ionJ. It is of greater conCeqUffice

to believe light III the Ql!.elhon of the Validity or invalidity of

a death- bed repcnt211ce, then to believe aright in (he ~Hiol1

of P~rga.tory; and the confequences of the Dochine of PredetermlOatlOn, are of deeper and more material! confideration then

(h~ produCls of the beliefe of the l;rwfulnelfe or unlawfulnefl"e of

pnvate Maffes ; and ye.t there great concernments where a li-

berty ofProph~y.mg III thefe ~llions hath been permitted,

hath made no dlttmCt Communion, no fects of Chriltians and

(he others bave~and Co have thefe too in thofe places wher~ they

have peremptorily been getermmd on either fide. Since then if

men are qure~ and cha!ltable in Iome dif-agreeings , that then

and there the IOconveo,lence ceaies , If they were 10 in all others

where lawfully rhey mighc (a~d t~ey may in moH.) Cbriflen-

dome Il;ould be no longer rem 10 pieces , but would be redinre-

!jrated 10 a nc.w ~e~tecolt, and although the Spirit of God did

relt upon us III divided tong~e5, yet 10 long as thofe tongue,

were of fire not to kindle firife , but to warme our affeCtions

and. ~flam~ o~r charities, we Ihould finde that this variety ot'

Opinions 10 1~verall perfons would be lookt upon as an areu-

menr only of diverfity of ?perations, while the Spirit is the ra~e;

and that another man believes not fo well as I,is onely an argu-

ment that I have a better and a clearer illumination than he

that I have a bener. gi~ than he, received a fpeciall grace and

!avour , and excell him In this, and am perhaps excelled by him

in many mor~. And if we all impartially endeavour to finde a

truth, fince this endeavour and fearch only is in our power, that

wee £hall finde It beiog J, extra, a sift and an affillance extrin-

fecall, I can fee no rcafon why this pious endeavour to finde

OUt tr~th fhall not be of more force to unite US in the bonds

of chamy, then his mifery in miffing it Ihall be to dir.unite us

.So that fince a union of perfwaiion is impoffible to be attain'd,

I~ we would attempt the ~ure by fuch remedies as are apt to en-

kindle and encreate chamy> I am confident wee might fee a

bdlelfed peace would bee the reward and crown of filch en-

e3VOII!S.

:But mm axe now adayeJ iDd indeed alwayes have been, !inee

.A ~ .. the

The Liberty of Prophefyi'Jg,

the expiration of the firll bleiTed Ages of Chn[iianity, fo in love with their own Fancies and Opinions, as to think Faith anj all Chriliendome is concernd in their fupport and maintenance, and whoever is not fo fond and does nor dandle them like them(elves, it growes up to a quarrell, which becaule it is in "Mte,ia theolooie is made a cuarrell in Religion. and God is entitled to it; a;d then if you are once thought an enemy ro God, it is our duty to perfecute you even (Q death, we doe God good fervice in it; when if we Ihould examine the matrer rightly, the Cl.!!.e. :lion is either in l'I!:ltel"i!i no" reuelar«, or mimJl evidenti, or non neNj[4riJ., either it is not revealed, or not (0 clearely , but that wife and honeH men may be of different minds, or elfe it is 1Il0t of the foundationof faith, but a remote fuper-Hrufture , or elfe of meere [peculation, or perhaps when all comes to all, it is a talfe Opinion, or a matter of humane inrerefl, that we have 10 zealoufly contended for; for to one of rhefe heads molt of the {DiljlUres of Chrittendome may be reduc'd , fa that I believe the prelcnt fraCtions (ar the molt) are from the lame caufe which St 'Paul obferved in the Carinthia .. Schi!ine, when there are J,jvifio1ll amo"g JOlt, are ye I10t carnnll ] It is not the differing Opinions elm is the Clute of'rhe prelent ruptures , but want of charity; it is not the variety of underHandings , but the dirunion-of wills and atfe8ions ; it is not the feverall principles,but the Ieverall ends that cauie our mileries : our Opinions commence, and are upheld according as our rums are ferv'd and OUI inrerefls are preferv'd, and there is 110 cure for us.but Piety and Charity. A holy lite will make our belief holy, if we conlul; nor humanity and its imperfedioas in the choyce of our Religion, but fearch for truth without delignes, fave only of acquiring heaven.and then be as carefull to prelerve Charity, as we were to get a point of Faith; ,1 am much perfwaded weIhould finde out more truths bythis meanes , or however (which is the maine of all) we fhall be Iecured though we mifle rhem ; and then we are well enough,

For if it be evinced that one heaven fhall hold men of [eve' rall Opinions , if the unity of Faith be not derlroyed by that which men call differing Religions, and if an unity of Charity iYi, the duty of us, all even towards perfcnsnhar are not perl'l\'a-

ded

t:r.-- The Liberty of Prophe{y;;Zi.-------·--,---ded of every propofirion we believe, then I wculdfaine lmo',v

to what purpofe ~re all thoie llir_res, and gr~at noy!es in Chri-

rlendome, rhofe names of faCtIOn, the ieverall Names of

Churches not diflinguifh'd by the divifion of Kinzdomes ut

eccltJi~ !eqrMt"" Imp.riu1II, which was the PrimitiveL: Rule and ' 0pl,<II". 3. Canon, but diflinguii11'd by Names olSeas and men' rhefe are

all become inflrumenrs of hatred, thence COme Schilmes and

parting n: Communions, and thenperfecutions, and then warres

2nd. R~bellion , and th:~ t.he dillolutions of all Friendlhips and

SOCIetIeS, All thefe milchiefes proceed not from this that all

men are not of one minde, ,f~r that is neither llcceaary nor

pol1ible, but that every OpInion IS made an Article of Faith

eVJry Article is. a~rou~d of a quarrell , every quarrel! makes ~

f.JlOn, e~ery t~Ct!On IS zealous, and all zeale pretends tor God,

and whauoever IS for God cann?t be too much; we by this rime

ace come to that paffe , we think we love not God except we

hat~ our Brother, and w: .have not the venue of Religion, un-

~e!le we perfecure all Religions bur our own ; for luke-warrnnetle

IS 10 odIOUS t<;> God and Man " [hat we proceeding furi611{]Y

~pon thefe miflakes, by _fuppohngwe prcierve the. body, we

cei~ro~ the [ouleofRehglO~, or by bemg zealous tor faith, or

which IS all one.for that which we miliake for faith, weare cold

in charity, and fa loofe (he reward of both.

All thefe errors and miiehiefes muft be difcovered and cured,

and that's the purpofeof this Dil~ourte. '

SECTIO'N I,

. Of ~he, nature of ~aith, and that its duty 1$ complealed zn beltevmg the Article: of the Apoft les Creed,

r: !ril: then ir !S .of greae concernmenr to know the nature and .lI. mregnty <;>1 faith : For. there begins our fira and great mi~ake; [or Faith a}r~ough it be of great excellency, yet when it IS rakenfor a habit intellecluall , it hath fo little roome.and Io

~~r!Ow a .capadty, tharir cannot lodge rhoutands of tho!e ODi.

mons which pretend. [0 be ofher Family. •

A 3 For

6 T/Je Libert?_oJ_Propbefy!!zg. §~

lVMtJb.a'-.---F-o-r-a-I"":t1-10-u-g7'h--:i-t be necclTadry fodr U; [0 believe wdhat(oebverbwe know to be revealed of G~ "an 10 every man oes! [at elievcs there is a God: yet It IS not necetTary, con;:er~lDg many things, [0 know that God hath revealed them, thac IS. we n:ay be ignorant ot: or doubt eoncernmg the propoficions , a:ld indifferently maintaine e!ther part, when rhe <l!!,efiJon. IS not concerning Gods ~erac~ty, buc whether G~d hath [aid fo ~r 110: That which IS of the foundation of Faith , [hat only 1l neceflary ; al~~ [h~ k~ow!ng .or not knowin~_of ~hat, the beIievino or dit-believing It, IS that only WhIch 10 gen~re C~'tdmdo~J!m, is in immediate and neceflary order to falvation

or damnation.

Now all the rea fan and demonHration of the world convinces us, that [his foundation of Fa!th, or the great a~eq~at,e. objeCt of the Faith that la,ves us, IS dl~t gr~at myll:en?ulnelle of ChriHianity which ChXlfi taught with 10 much diligence, for the credibility of which he wrought fo many miracl~s; for the ce(timony of which the Apo~les endured perfecutions j that which was a folly co the Gentiles, and a. f~andall ~o the jewe, this is that which is [be obJed. of a Chriilians Faith : All other things are implicitely in the beliefe of the Articles o~ G?dl veracity, and are not nece!Tary In rerpe~ ?f the Conflitution of faith to be drawn out, but may there lie In the bowels of the great Articles without d~nger to any thing or any perf on, unlelle lome other accident or clrcumllance makes them neceffary : Now the ereat objeCt which I Ipeak of, is ]efus Chrift crticified; (en. jl1lu7 enim apud vas nihtl flirt pr.cur Jeff/In Chrijlu,,: & hi'"., crucifi:,:um; fo faid S. P~ut ~o the ~hurc~ of (o;l1Ith: Tb~s is the Article upon the Conteflion ot which Chrifl built hll

Church oi«, only upon S. PeterJ Creed, which was no more but this' (imple enunciat~on. w,' 6e/iwe ""d are for~ that '?OH art Chriff the Sonne oj the [lVl1Ig God: And to this falvarion particulul; is promifed, ~s in th~ cafe of <.Marth,,'s Creed. MJ.ll.'l7. To this the SCrIpture g1VC!S the greatefl: Tetiimony, and to all them thatcomeAl: it; ior If/", [Pi,.# that cORfiffiliJ thM 1,[111 Chrift is CO"" ill thtftejh it Dfqo~: .And who ev'~ co.I"ff'eth that Iefus Ghrifrit the SDlIne of God ,GDd d>l?ellelh In

hj~, find h, in GQJ; The believing this1utiele is the end of wrItIng

The Libert) of Prophefying.

~.r •

7

writing rhe foure Gofpels: For 111/ theft thil'l? lire wrine», that 1,11,'0,3 t. " might believe, that IefNs ;, ,hI Chrill th, Sonne of God, and

then rhat chis is fufficien[ followes, and that 6~/i,vj'1g, viz. this

Article (for this was only intlanced in) JII might hilVI lifo

tbr8!lgh hiS "am" This ischat great Articlewhieh ingellirecre-

amdorum, is liIfficiem difpofition [0 prepare a C"'techum!1I to

Baprilin, a. appeares in the cafe of [he ethidpiA" Eunuch, whofe

Creed was only this, [ believe thllt lefor Christ ;J the S.nne

ofGo.l" and upon this Confeflion (faith the Ilory ) they both

went into the water, and the Etbiop was wathed an i became

as white as fnolv.

In there particular infiances, there is no variety of Articles, 'lX.'<I.w6'4~

[ave only rhac in the annexes of the feverall exprefiions, fuca -

thin es are exprelled , as betides that ChriH is come, they celt

froni' whence, and to what purpote . And wharfoever is ex-

preffed, or is to there purpoles implyed, is made articulate and explicate, in the Ihon and admirable mytlerious Creed of

S,'Paul, Rom.lo.g. ru, is the wDrd of fait!' which IV: prl!.tch,

tlw if thou jh:t[t confe/Te )vith thJ moulh the Lord le[ur, an<l

]halt belief)e in thine he:1,.t, that Goa hath r,'ifod him [r» n t"~

dead, thou /h.1[: ~te fovea: This is the great and intire com-

plexion of a Chrlllian's faith, and fince falvation is promifed to

the belicfe of this Creed, either a lime is laid for us , with a

purpofe to decei ve us, or eUe nothing is .of prime and origi-

naIl necetfity to be believed, but this, lefot Chrift our Redee-

mer; and all that which is theneceffrry pam, meanes, or maine

acl:iom of working this redemption tor us, a~d the hOl1?uC

for him is in the bowels and fold of the great Arrkle.and claims

an explicite belief by the Came reafon that binds us to the belief

of its fitt!: complexion> without which neither the thing could

be a61ed, nor the propofition underllood,

For the att of believing propofitions , is not for ic fel,ie, Xum6. 5, but in orderto certaine ends; as Sermons are to good lite

and obedience; for ~ excepting that it acknowledges iGods. ve-

racity, andfo is a direCt acl of Religion) believing a revea-

led propofirion, hath no excellency in. it [elfe, but ~n order to

that end for which we are inltru.9:ed In Iuch revelations. N<:.v

Gods great purpofe beina to bring us to him by Jerus Chrt1~,

,'- l:I ", _' ChIlH

r,

I

i'

--.-----'rl;~-Liberty ofPropbefying. l.T.

-Cb~iH-i:t:J'l;~I~l~di~~t~ God, obdience i~le mediL;m to

Chrit! and Faith tile medium to obedience, and therefore is to have i;, eilimare in proportion ~o, its proper end, an.l t~O!~ thinus are neccflary, which neceflarily promote the ,11(1, withc ut ~hicb obedience cannot be encouraged or prudently enjo)n'd : So [har, [hole Articles are nece,!lary , th~t is, tho'e a:~ fundrmcntall points, upon which, we build Ol~l' o_oecllence; ana ;:, [he influence of the Article IS to the pertwaucn or engage. mc nt or' ohcdience , Io they have their degrees ofneCt,llit)', t<ow all that Chrill , when he preach'd, raughc us to be.icve , and all that the Apoll lcs in their Sermons propo~.ll1d, all aime ;i~ this, that wee 1110uld acknowledge Chril] lor Ol!r LJw, e iver and our Saviour; 10 that nothing can be nec~fbry b~ 1. rr:mc neccflity ro be _ bclicv'd cxplicitel«, but fiichthings lV,hl(h are therefore ram 01 rhe great Arricle , becaufe they e,l:h~, encouracc our len' ices or oblige them, inch as declare Chritls gr,,:ane!fe in hil11:dl(~: or his goodnelTe to us: S? that at: rl.ouau we mui] neither deny nor doubt of any tblng, wlucrr we CnolY our sreat MaHer hath taught us: yet talvation is in lpe':iall and b)'~lan;e annexed to, the beliefe of thole Areiclc (J,I)" which have in [hem the indearerncnrs ?~ o~r Iervices, rr the rupport ot our. confiderce , or the (ms,aC1,IO,n of out l.cenCl .uch a, arc; Jelus Chrifl the Sonne of the hong God, r',~ Crncifxion and Re.urrection of Iefus, forgivenefie or (nnes bv his bleed, Returrection of the dead, and life erernall, becaule lillie pWFOiitions qualifie Chriti for ?l1r Saviou; and au:

Vi'.; -Giler, the one to cngat;e our lervices, the otner to end,:aH! .lu m , for (0 much is neceffary as will make us [0 be his icrv;;ms, and his Dhciples i .~nd what can ,b~ required more] "1 11,s 0111)'. Salvauon1s prolI,lll d [0 [he explt~lte belief 01 ~hole Art ic.cs, and therefore thole only are necetlary, and rhofe ~re li.:fJicient; but.rhus , to.us in [he rormality of Chrifiians, which is a formality Iuper.added to .a former capacity, we before we ore ChriHians are reaionable creatures. and capable of a b!effed eterniry , and th~re, is a Cre~d,lVhich is tb~ ~e~ltiles_ C~eed which is 10 luppoled 111 the Cluillian Creed, as it IS lUl'po!ed In a Chri!lian 1O be a man , and that 1S, oportee accedmt<madD,- 1111) credo» 'DUlm tf/e, & rjJ'e rmlllli:r~{Ortm 'F·(rer.tiHTlJ {lIItJ'J'

. t

Tie Li~erty of frophefying.

If any man will urge farther, that whauoever is deducible from thele Articles by neceflary contequence , is neceflary to be believed explicuely . I Anlwer. It is true, if he lecscbe de~ duclicn and conerence of the pans; but it is nor certain that every man (hall be able to deduce whanoever is either immediately, or certainly deducible from there premires . and then lince ialvation is prornit'd to the explicite belief of the!e ,I iec nor how any man can juHifie the making the way to heaven narrower then JClus Chrifl hath made it, it being- ~!;eady 1<:' narrow, [hat there are few that rinde it.

In the purti.ance of [his grear truth, rhe Apoflles or the ho- Numb.,:

Iy men, their Contemporaries and 0 i .ciples.compcfed a Creed, to ' .~ pol ccntr. be a Rule 01 Faith to all Chririians. as aprears in Irenesu, a Ttr. G_llt,c.47,. d. IUl/lau,· S. Cypriiln, c S. /!tlftm, d RIIJJi~U!, and diver. c others; vel.ind, "'g. w~ich C ree.i unlefle i: had conra_in'd all rhe intire obje8 of ~,r.ln 'Xlm"t. Faun, and the, foundaricn of Religion, it ,cannot be imagin'd to S)"I"bX ' what purpofe It Ihould lerve_; and that 1C was 10 etleem d by c Serrn. $, de the whole Church of God 111 all Ages, appears in this, thar tc,lIl'ur:,cap.'. Ii~ce Faith is a neceflary pre-difpotirion to Bapti.m in all PCl'- d I:; c!yn bolo rons capable of the ute of reafon, all c ~tech"menJ in [he Larine apu ) l'rUfi .• Church camming to Bapriirn, were iarerrogated concerning e Oiuncs ar-. their Faith, and gave iatisfaciion in tile reciration of this Creed. rhcdcr i 1'3- And in the Eat] they profeifed exa.tly the lame Faith, lome- nos amrm311t thin~ diifering in words, but of the fame marrer.reaicn.derian, ~hmb~IIJ<;;l,b andconleql1enCe; and 10 [hey did at lilm1",m, 10 at cAa~i- ~~~jitll~~ o.is

I ' Thi h"" 0 ." ,. ..' ~ ,-

eM. IS was t at a~3'H 1t:l ct!-!'~'f.(·mif5 mS7:)~IJl'i1~p Y.tif:';";?c--J IJ ct~l~ ~ Scxt.f:;u}'ozJ!~,

t; "::,G~.\I~I) ~ a:'"ZlI';S"C~,~t} £1.,XA/ln::t. xi}' ~ii~:t 7f~;:a~ X"-IVI7p.~V J~. tib, 1., r!ibl.,.z)!dc ~"i"ViI' There Articles were 7rJ.' V";J a)bp d",c,ch"P >0 T r.,T .GelJebr, I.,. de EI'.e-i'(J), tld~l¥V7"'JI e, nc;', &)f:!u e!l1 ~;'iO,lJdd.I' ;,1"cl'j[JJ.t.;cI., L.5' Ird~l_

{od, de S.'Tr.me,& fid, Cath, Cum rell», Now iitlce the Apo-

HIes and Apollojicall men and Churches: in rhere their Sym-

boIs, did recite particular Articles to a confiderable number.

and were 10 rrunute in their recitation, as [Q delcend [0 cir-

cumllances, it is more then .probable [hat they omitted nothing

?t necellity; and that there Articles are not generall principles,

111 the boiome of which many more Articles equally neceflary to

be believed explicircly and more parricular, are infolded; bur

""or ;t is as minute an explication of (hore prim:; 'cmJ,ibtlia

. B 1

i i

e·!·

The Liberty Df PropheBing.

10 '[he Liberty of Propbefying.

--------~------~-- --~--------

I before reckoned, as is neceflary [Q falvation,

And therefore Tmul!ifw calls the Creed "egdam fidd, 11);2

[alva & form:l ejtu Itw,ey.t~ ill [uo ardint '. p~/Jlt in ScripttJ,',t tYilami (:7- inqttir] ji ql!ii -uideter vel amb/gUitalc pendere vsl otfc:Jrittlte ohflm!JYllrl" Cordi! figw1Cfdtt?iJ. G~ ~/J/l"'JJ mtlitlt2 Su.cr:t .. mci.t um, S. vtmurofo calls ir , MI. 3.dc vellwdll virgiil. Compre. Imii; f:b >1o/:,..c a: :r, prrjJUo, by S. Atljlin.Sei1l1. g I e, Conj<jJiJ, z.\·oojith, regrJI fide:; generally by the Ancicntsr The proteif:~11 of this Creed. WJS the cxpolirion ofthar iaylng OrS,Pallf', t:U1.C1h:cr~'(; d;:1,':i:G ·s l1!?,j.nJ!J.d.. (j'; (Is)" ~ Tb~ anfiv~(' of '"~ geod cC"jcience /olv;trd, God. For ol the rccitarion and profdIion 0:' this Creed in Bapti.m , it is that 'Tertrdlien de r'fitr. c:lr:::~. :ayes, v-tr.if1MIWJ lotionc ; f:d reJ'iJonjioite [snciter, And at till. was the prayer of Ht/!.,'} , lib. 12. de T'rinit, (ol1ftr":!.) h;l1J" ~o,1fcieiJti.e ms« uscem ut qJtod i» rt'g_encYdtioni! me e Sl,JniJo/(J .E,I;tiz.,.1tm iii Pntre, nu«, Spiro S. prolciTw [un:; fen~Pfr o{;t"'t.~IiJ. And accordirg to the Rule and Re.ai~lJ ot thiS. Difcourre (thJt it m~y "ppear tba~ the Creed h~tb 1111~ all i\rtlcl~. prtmo c: P" /e, primcly and univerlally necellary) me Creed IS jul] Iirch an explication of that Faith which the Ap?IHe~ preached, :""" .the Creed which S. PiIt/! recites as conraines 111 It all d101e thIngs which entitle Chrifi to us i~ the capaciries of om Law-Giver and our Saviour, Iiich as enable him to the great work of'redcmption , according to the predictions concerning him, and ~uch as engage and encourage our fervices, For, raking O~t the Article of Chrills de{cent into Hell (which was not 111 We old Creed, as appeares in [orne of the Copj~s 1 before re~erd ro, in Tertlillian, Ruff"''', and Ireruns ; and indeed was omitted tn. all the Confeffions of the Ealiern Churches ,m the Church 01 Rome, and in the N,cme Creed, which by adoption came to be the Creed of the Catholike Church) 311 other Articles are filcb as dire8:ly coniliture the paltS and wor!( of our reden;ption, filch as clearly derive the honour to Clmit> and enab'e him with rhe capacities of au! Saviour and Lord. The reH engage our Cervices by propofition of fuch Articles which are r~th~r prcmites then propolicions j and the whole Creed, take It In :ll1y of the old Forms, is but an Analyfis of that which S.P<l1I1 cal. rhe word of Ialvarion, whereby we fhall be Javed, til ... that we

'"'. . .-' .. confelfe

(onkDe ]e{us to be Lord, and tl.ar God railed him [re.m d:c dead: bv the firf! whereof he became am Law-Giver and our Guardian j by the lecond he was om Savir.ur : the oiher tiling, arc but parts and maine 2tlions of rhofe two, Now what reaIDn there is in the world rhar can inwrap any thing elic Ivithiil the foundaticn, char is. in the whole body of Articles (mply 81~d in'eparably necetlary, or ill the prime originall neccfliry of' Pairh , 1 cannot poO;bly imilgil1C. There doe the work, md therefore nothing can upon the true grClll~ds of rcafon enlarge die I1(C(fi1ty [0 rhe inclo.ure of ether Articles.

Now if more were neccfiary than the Articles of the Creed, IVtf,~~~. 9; I (Errand why was it made the' Characlcritiick note of a

Cbriiiian from a Heretick, or a [ew, or an Infidell? or to what· Vide Tro,)o! purpo'e was it ccmpo!ed_? Or itthis IV.as intended as lufliciem, dcE":ri:c~,c, did rlc Apofiles or tho:e Churches which they ioundcd, knew ~ : ,'. ca'T-'" 2ny (bing elie co be necetlary > If they did nor, then eithr.r 110- n~':':~;;~~' u)~'~· . rhino more is neceflary ( I {peak of matters of mcer beliefc ) c. ;0. "vcrL or t1~ey did 110( know all the will of the Lord , and fa were Vennnr.Fi r.In unfit Ditpenfers of the myrleries of the Kingdom ;or.ifthey F."". 5"""0 (lid how more was ncccflary, and yet would not infert It, they Fcu';;'denr. iii

b ,_ d . 1 - 1 lrcn.Iic.r.c.e,

did all act of pu like notice, ana conlJgn' It to al Ages ot [ ie

Church to no purpote , Clnlefle to beguile credulous people by

ruakim~ them believe their fsith was iilflicient, havil1g trycd

it by ~bae much-none AFollolicall, wl.cn there was 110 Iuch

matter,

Bur if this was {ilffcicnt to bring men to Leaven then, why 1'Iml.6. !c.~ not now? 1[', he Apo!lJes acmirred all ro their Communion that

believed [his Creed. why Ihall wee excil:ce any that preferve

rhetame i.uire ? why is not our faith ofrbe.c Articles of as much

cifc,cy for bril1oil1g us to heaven, ,,5 ir was in the Churches

ApoLlolicalI? wlfo bad guides more infallible thar mig[l[ with-

cut errour bare taught them iiipcrtiruciures enough, iftp;ey

~ad been necetfary : and Io they did; nt~t that they did !lor l_n-

rerr them into the Creed. when they tmght hare dr.ne It WIth

as much certainty, as thefe Articles, makes it clear to my un-

derfiandil1g, that other things were not neceflary , but there

were j thar whatever profit and advanreges might ceme fr(~n

other Articles, yet thefe were [uflicient, and however certain

13 z perlone

'1 he L iGerty of prophefyinJ;'.

I

! I

, I

----p;r[;;;~-;~ight Jc~i~l~~alll' ll~-oblil~~d t; believe mucl;~~~~:

yet this was the one and onely foundation of Fairn uponwbic!l all perlons were to build their hopes of" heaven, [his IYoS therefore neccflary to be taught [0 all, bccauie of necefliry to be be, liev'd by all: So that auuough other pcrfons might commit a delinquency i11 aenere mort.rn , if they did not know or did not' believe much m~re, becaufe they were oblig'd to further dil(]ltl. firioos in order to other ends, ) et none of thele who held the Creed intire, could periil, for want nf neceflary faith, though pollibly he mieht for tupine negli~~.:nce or atfe6\ed ignorance, or lome otbe~ fault which bad influence upon his opinions, and his underfianding, he ba~ing a new fupervening obligation ex accidents to know and believe more.

J'{Jl'ltJb, _iI, Neither are wecblig'd to make rhefe vrtklos more particular

and minute then the Creed, For (ince the ApolUes and indeed our blefled Lord himfelte promifed heaven [0 them who believe him [0 be the Cbrifl that was (0 come into the world, and that he who believes in him, fhould be partaker of the relbrrea ion and life eternall , be will be as good as bis word: yer becaule this Article was very generall, and a complexion rather then a fingle proPC:lltion ; the .~~of!les and others our Fathw" l,n, Chriti did make ir mo-e explicire, and though they have laid no more then what lay entire and ready forrn'd in the boiome of rhe great Article, yet they made their extracts, to great purpofe , and abfolure fuAiciel1cy, and therefore there needs no more deductions or remoter confequences from the firll great Article, than the C reed of the A pottles, For although whatfoever is certainly deduced, from any of thefe Artic!es made already fo explicire.i: as certainly true, and as much robe believed as the Article it telfe , becauie es: veri! poffunt nil "~i 'Vera fe'lui, yet becaule it is not certain that our dedntTions from them are certain, and what one calls evident, is 10 oblcure [0 another, tbat. he believes it falfe , it is the befl and only fafe courfe to rell in that explication the Apofiles have made, be~aufe if any of thete Apotlciicall deductions were not demon· !hable evidently to follow from that steat Article [0 which fall'Jation is promifed , yet the authority of them who compij'd she Symboll, [he plaine defcription of the Anicles from the

" words

Q,[,

The Liberty of Prophefying.

§.r.

words of Scriptures, the evidence of reafon demonHraring thefe to b" the whole foundation, are fufficient upon great grounds of reafon to aicertaine US ; but if we goe rarther , betides the eaGnetl'e of being deceived, we relying upon om OWl1 ditcourfes, (which though they may be Hue and [hen binde us to fo1l01 .... rhem.bnt yet no more then when tbey only feem truelt,) yer they cannot make the thing cerraine to another. much lefle neceflary in it Ielfe, And (ince God would not binde us upon paine of finne anJ punifhment, to make deductions our felvee, much letle would he binde us to follow another man's Losick as an Article of our Paith ; I ray much lefle another mans;" for' our own integrity (for we will certainly be true to our felves, and doe our own bufinefle heartily) is as fit and proper to be imployed as another mans ability, He cannot fecure me that' hi~ ability is abfolure and the grearefi, but 1 can be more cer; wile that my own purpofes and fidelity to my felfe is Iirch, And fince it is neceffary to ref! fomewhere , lell: we Iliould run to an infinity, it is belt to refl there whererhc Apoflles and the Churches ApoflolicaU refled , when nor only tbey who are able' [0 judge, but others who are not, are equally atcertained cfrhe certainty and of the (ufficiency of that explication.

This I ray, not that I believe it unlawfull or untafe for .he'l'{umbdl., Church or any of the eAntiJliter religioni; , or any wile man to

extend his own Creed to any tbing may cerrainely follow from'

:anyone of the Articles; but I lay .• tim no fuch deduction is

fit to be prefi on others as an Article cf Faith; and that every

dedudion which is fo made, unletle it be iuch a thing as is ar

alit evident [0 all , is but fufficiem' to make a humane Faith,

nor can it amount to a divine, much lefle can be obligatory to

binde a penon of a differing per.wafion to fubfcribe under paine

ofloofing his Faith, or being a Heretick, For it is a demontlra-

lion, that nothing can be neceflary [0 be believed under paine

of damnation, bur {ueh proporirions of which it is cerraine that'

God hath -poken and taughrchem [0 us, and of which it is,

cerraine that this is their ienre and purpofe : for if the

fenre be uncertain. we can no more be obliged to believe it in'

a certain ieme , then we are to believe it at all, if it were not'

certaine tbat God delivered it. But if it be onely certaine th1c'

. B3 G~

C()r;t:~llXl(!r. ~'.:lP}5:&.'

lA',

C;;;CJi)]\;c it , 'lnjl~ot-cert~i~~~-~~h;t [enl;::-~~Fai;h of it j, to be as indeterminate as its Jell Ie, and it can be no Other ill the nature of the [billg, nor is it confonant to Gods juHice to believe of him that be can or will require more. And this isof the nature of rhofe proporirions which Ariflotle calls Oi7!I{, [0 which without any further probation.all wife men will give aflent at its {jrll publication. And rherrore deductions inevldenc.ficm the evi. dcnr and plain letrcr of Faith , are as great rcceflions from the obli. garion.as they are from the (implicity .and certainty of [he Arricic. And this I alfo anirm, although the Church of any one denomination, or reprc.cnred in a Councell, (hall make the deduction or declaration.For unleflc Chritl had promifed his Spirit [0 prored ercry particu'ar Church from all errors leffe mareriall, unlefle he had promiled an ablohuc univerfall infallibility rtian» in miMI. tioribu«, unlcfle Iuper-Iiructures be of rhe fame necetlity with the fcundarion, and that Gods Spirit doth not only preterve his Church ill the being of a Church, but in a cerrainty of not laying any thing thar is Idle cerrain; and that whether they will or no too; we may be bound to peace and obedience, to (ilence, and [0 charity, but have not a new Article of faith made; and a new propotition though conlequent (as 'tis [aid) from an Article of Faith becomes not therefore a part of rhe Faith, nor of abiolure necefJity,Q!!id (J"'luam alid Ecclejia COl1cilimlltJ decreti: e.if1 eft , niJi lIt qllod snte« jimp/iciter credeblltllr, hoc idem p8ft(,1 diltgftili,'t' crederetl1r, faid Vllleln/ifl! Li;-il1f"(iI, whatfoever was of necetlary beliefe before is fo fiill, and hath a new degree added by realon of" a new light or a clear explication; but no profirions can be adopted .nro the foundation. The Church hath power to intend our Faith, but not to ex rend it; to make cut helicfe more evident, but not more large and ccmprehenfive. For Chritt and his Apollles concealed nothing tim was neceflary to the integrity of Chriflian Faith, or falvatioo of our iouls , Chrifl declared all the will of his Father, and the Apoiiles were Stewards and Difpenfers of the fame Mylleries, and were faithfull ill all the houle , and therefore conceald notbing, but taught the whole Doctrine ofChriH; 10 they laid themfelves, And indeed if they did not teach all the Doctrine of Faith, an Angel or a man might have tallgh[ us other things

tbes

f.r.

~.I_:___ The Li/;err, of prophefyz'ilg. l5

rhen what they taught, without def~~vj~:-;-A~3ehemJ-bnt no. -.'-~--IY!t!10ur deferving a b!(ffing. for makirfg up that Fairl] imir;;

w[a~h the Ap~flle.s lefi: I:r'perietl:. NOIv .if tbe~ t?ught all the

whole body ot Fa~th, either the Church 111 the iol1owing Age»

Jot! pa;t of t.he Fauh (a~d then \V~ere IVa! their infallibility, and

the died?! t.l;oCe glorious promifes to which fhe pretend. anC:

~H,I.I cerram 11.rle; . for Ole may as we!1 introduce a f21i110od 3J

;0o,e a truth, It being ~s much promiled to her tim the HOn'

'y Gbo.H fhall lead her rnto all trurh , as that Ihe i1Ja!1 be pre ..

!crvet! trom all error. as appears, Iob, r6.l'.) Or ifi}o rerainc'

all d:e Faith which Chrilt and his Apoflle.~onfan'd a'lId r;u:I;."

I' A b d I ' . b. b -,

[-,en no ,ge call. y ec armg any poinr , make that be an Af"

;,:de of Faltb wb!ch was not ~o in all. i'ges of Chrillianiry be.

,?re Inch declaration, And Indeed It the • Church by dccls- ' Vi"" 1,1"";" II111_; all Arcicle call make that [0 be neceflsry, which betore IVlS Aim"". in ". net nc~enaty, I doe not Ice I~o,v it ~all Iland with the charity of SC~t, :i. ,". the Church (0 ro doe (e!pccI2:1Y,alrer 10 IOi]g experience GlC::~ ,8: :JlJC.ch:b J hath had that all men will not believe ever'! lid] deciiion or C". ,.t'jt '.~' ,,0,

l' ion) Co b c doina tl 1 J 1.\ (JUc)'_ nu: 1 V"-

? icanon ror Y;o 01l1g Inc maxes the narrow w~y to heaven ri"s ~ll' c;.

narrow~r, and chalks OUt one prth more co the Devill then I:e thuli'-l to; "> ludbetoreand vet the way wasbroad enonzh when ir war at the proh:tioJJc,

" J b' 0' , '" ,_ r 'c

narrowett, For efore , ditterin" pertons rniehr be f:ved in di- .cc.eu.c '~l

vee"t f C Ii d "'- t.: dOl"'" c a .

J1 yo. p~rlwa IOns, an n01yattert:m eclararion if they can- !'7;,:L l'S';,:"

~or, there n no other alrer~tl~n m.aae, bu.t tfla= lome fhall be lJi!,., i.q.Vil,C. damned who before ~vel1 111 .tile lame ditpofirions and beliefc a:'q. u;.J,_;d;: 11101l~d have b~en bear.Ifi~d perfcn s, For tberelore, it is well for j,iC<,,'.

rh~ Fathers ot the Primitive Church that their errors were ncr

dl:covered, _fi?r if they had been contened ( for that would h;vf;

been, cald dl~covery enough) vet errores emmdaj[ent, '1Je! a!> ce- IUlJr.de he:: ';'Jia IJeff, jffijfmt: Bur it is better as it was, they Went to hea- 1.;:C,20. §,od lei! by thar good fortune, whereas otherwite they micht have l''''".1Jn cc.v- 30ne to the.Devill. And yet there were [orne erro;s,bpartiCtl~ nrmar.onem, larly tha; .of S. CJpr;an that was difcovered , and be went ro

~eaven, lIS thoUBht; poffibly they mighr 10 too for all this pre-

cerxe ", But hI: 'po;e It true , yet whether that declaration of

111 Article. of which with rarery we either might have doubted

th beene Ignorant, does more good, then the damnins of

[ Qle ~any foules occaiiolJally > but, yet cerrainely and < ~re-

!,nol"/ illg!y

It

16

7be Liberty of Prop/~efy~g_. _:_~_.r,

------c

j,l1uwinp,1y does burt, lleav~ i~ to all wile and. good men to de-

termine. And vet betides this.it cannot enter tnton1y thougbts, that ir can poilihly conlill: with Gods.goodneffe., to put it imo the power of man [0 palpabl~ and ('p~nly co ~lter the paths and in-Icts to heaven, and to Hrelghten his mercies , unlelle he had Iurnifhed there men wilh an infallible judgememand an infallible pm.\ence, and a never failing c!mit)': rhat they fhould nev~r dee Jt but with greatneceffity , and With great truth, and withou; ends and humane defignes , of which I think no Arguments can make us cerraine, what the Primitive Church hath done in this cate : I Ihall afterwards confider and give an account of ir , bur for the p erent, there is no infecurity in ending there where the A potlles ended, in building \'I.here t~ey buil!: in reHing where they left .us , nnlefle .the ta~e infallibility which they had, ha? Hill conrinued , which I clunk I Ihall hereafter make evident It did not: And therefore thole extenfions of Creed which were made in the firll: Ages of the Church, although for the matter they were molt true; ye~ becaufe it was not cett.a~n that they Ihould be lo, and they mIght have been otherwite , therefore they could not be ill the fame order of Faith , nor in the [arne decrees of necefliry to be believ'd with the Articles Apotlolical1; and therefore whether they did well or no in laying the fame weight lI~on them, or whether they did lay the fame weight or no, we Will afterwards confider.

But to rerum. I confider that a foundation of Faith cannot alter, unleffe a new building be to be made, the foundation is the G,me Hill; and this foundation is no other but thar which Chritl and his Apotlles laid, 1'1 hich Doctrine is like himielfe, ycllcrday and t~ day, and the fame for ever: So that th.e Anic1es ofneceifary beliefe to all (which are the only foundation) they cannot be leverall in teverall Ages, and to Ieverall perfons, Nay, the ientence & declaration of the Church,cannotlay this foundation, or make any thing of the foundation, becauie the Chunh cannot lay her ow n foundation; we mull Iuppole her to be a building, and that Ole relies upon the foundation, which is therefore fuppoled to be laid before, bccaufe Ihe is built upon it, or (to make it more explicate) bccaufe a cloud may ariie from the Allegory of building and fQuuclalion,it is plainly thus; The lhu!ch

., .. .. .... bemg

f. t, The LiGerty of FroplJeJjil'Jg.

~ -a-co-. m-pa-n-y-o-f-m-en-o-b-ligedto tl~eduries()(Fai{b:r11dObe-~djen~e the duty and obligation being of the faculties of will anc. underi~al1ding to adhere to Iuch an object, mult. pre-filppofe the objetl: mac~ ready for them; for as the obJetl: IS be(o~e the act in order of nuure, and therefore not to be produc d or encrealed by the faculty (which is receptive , cannot be attire lipan its prcper object i ) S? the objeCt of the Churches Faith is in order of nature before the Church, or before the acl: and habite of Faith, and therefore catlno~ be enlarged by the Church any more then the atl: of the vifive faculty can adde viiibjlity'to the. object, . So that if ~ve have fou~1d out IV hat foundation Chrifl and his ApoHles did lay, rhat IS what body

and f),Heme of Articles limply neceflary they raughr and,recuir'd of US to bet eve , we need nor, we cannot goe any furtber for foundation, we cannot enlarge that fyileme or collecii-

on. Now rhen , although all that they laid is rrue , and nothina of it to be doubted or dif-believed , yet as all that ~hey

faid "is neither written nor delivered (became ail was not nece!f~ry) to we know that !'~ rhofe things which are ~vrit.t<n~ forne rhinss are as farre ofr from the foundation as thOle thIngs which we~e omirted , and therefore although now accidentally

they mull be beliv'd by all that know them, yet it is not necetfary all 010uldkno:v them; a?d t1;at all jhould know [bern

in the tame tenfe and IDterpreratlon, 15 neither probable a:or ob.igaroryj . but therefore f:nce rhefe things are to be ditlinguiihed by feme differences or nece~aIY ~~d not n.ecelfary, whc,

rher or no is not the declaration ot Chritis and his Apotlles affixing talvarion to the beliefe of fome g~eat comprehcnf ~e Articles and the a~l: of the Apofllcs rendring them as expli-

cite as :hey thought con_venie?[, al~d .conGgning [hat Creed made 10 explicire.as a tc!le!a of a Chr.l!tlan,. ~s a ~omprehenGo~

of the Articles of his beliete.as a lllfliclCnt dilpofirionand an ex-, prene ofthe Faith ofa (ateclmmen i~ .order to B~ptl!m: \Vh~_-

titer or no I Jay, all this be not [u~cl~m pro.ballon that the.e

only are of ab.olute neceffity, that this IS iuificienc for.meer be-

Iiee in order to heaven, and that therefore whoroever believes

thcie Articles heartily and explicitely , 8,), ,,:1''' CY .Jm;, as

S. lob" s expreflion is, God dWc/lcth In h,m, I leave It [0 be

J C conlider'd

17

the Liberty of PropbefYing.

'------~Olll'id;;:'d 8~d jnds'dcl'fr;;;;;-"the premiles : O;ly thi"if the oil DQctors bad been made Judges in there O!:!_eHions, they would have paiTed rheir affirmative; tor to inilance in one for all, or lL:"d"d:n,t. this it 1'.',,' raid by Tertellian, Reglll.J tjftid"m fid~; tin:! omnino eft \"," 10£.1 hm",,/;ilts G'" irrefurm .• bi!t6 o», Hac lege fidei man.nt. cerere j,;m dJjCip/ina & c()J1vcrfi1tio1Jis admitt!lnt novitatcm correffrol1iJ,

"pm.nt. Fil. & p'r0f!~ic>Jtc.llfi in fincm gratia 'Dei. This Symbol IS the one illfhcletlt Immoveable unalterable and unchange. able rule of Faith, that admits no increment or decrement; but if rhe integrity and unity of this be preferv'd , in all adler rhings men may take a liberry of enlarging their knowledoes and prophciyings, according as ther are aililled by the gr~ce of Col.

S.EC'f. II.

Of HerefY and the nature of it, and that it is to be accounted according to the [tria capacity of chriftiar. l'aitb, and not in Opinions Jpeculative, nor ever to pious perfons.

A Nd thus r have repreCenred a [horr draught of the Obje~i kf...l\ of Faith, and its foundation; the next contideration in or. der to our maine delign, is [0 confider what was .and what ought (0 be the judgement of the Apoflles concerning Herefy: For although there are more kinds of vices, than there are of venues; yer the number of them is to be taken by accounting the tran{greflions of their venues, and by the limier of Faith ; we may alfo reckon the Analogy and proportions of Herety , that as VIC have teen who was called faithfull by rile ApoHolicall men, wee may alio perceive who were lifted by rbem in the Catalogue of Hereticks, that we in our judgements

may proceed accordingly.

And IirH the word Herefy is ufed in Scripture indifferentiy, in a good renfe for a Sect or Divifion of Opinion, and men foilowing it, or fomedmes in a bad Ienfe , for a falle Opinion fignally condemned; but rhete kinde of people were then cald Ami:

t·!_·_- __ T!~!:i6erty of Prophe(jhlg. 19

Anri.chril15 sed falfe P;q;h~t;-~err:~q~~e;;ly th-;nH~~;;~icks---"" and then there were many of them in die world. But Ir is ob:

lerl'ea ble rhar no Herefies are noted {tgmmtel' in Scripture, but

inch as are great errors praclicall i" mater'; pittatir, {uch whofe

doelr'n, s taught impiety, or fuch who denycd the commins

ofChriJ! direCTly or by confequeece.nor remote or wiJedrawll"

but prime and immediate: And therefore inrhe Code d6S.Trj~

?liMe <7 fide C_mholic_',. h.erefy is called d",P')f ~;" , 'fJ "'&~f1"e-

liJ'Wdl""-, a wicked Op1l11On and an ungodly dOCTrine.

The 6rH :illfe doctrine we finde condemned by II)e ApoHIes

was the cpiuion of Simon Magus, who tboughc the Holy (Sholl: NIJm/;. j; \\'a' to be bcughr with money; he [hougbt very difbonourably

to the blefled Spirit; but yet his followers arc rather noted 01 a

vice, neither refiing in the underllanding I nor derived frem it

bur wloly praclicall : Tis {imony, not herefy, though in Sima;

it was a Ialte opinion proceeding from a low account of God,

and promoted by his own ends of pride and coveroufnefle : The

sreaL hereiy that troubled them was the doctrine of the necefliry

01 kee ping the Law of M.feJ,tne neceflity ofCircumcilion;againll:

which dochine they were rherfore zealous.becaufe it I'\' as a direct

overthrow to the very end and excellency of Chrifls comming.

And this was an opinion molt petinaciollily and obHinately

maintain'd by the Jewes, and had made a Sea among

tbe qalathillns , and this was indeed wholy in opinion; and

againrt it the Apo!lJes oppoted tWO Articles of the Creed,

wh~ch (ery'd at fevera!l times according ~s the Jewes chang-d

tbeir opllllon, and left lome degrees of their error, I IHlicve in

J'fof (,hrift, «nd 1 believe the holy Catholik._e Church; For they

therefore prefl'd the necefiity of t5Ilofel Law, becaufe tlley

were unwilling to forgoe the glorious appellative of being Gods

own rccu,iJr per.ple.and that Uvation was ofthe jewes.and that

the reti ot tI.e world were capable of that grace, no orherwife

but by adoption into their Religicn, and becomming Pro.elyrcs.

But thiswas 10 ill a doSl:rine, as that it overt brew the great be-

nefits 01 Chrifi's comming; for if they !vtrc circtlllicij'd, Clmft

profi.red them n.,hiHg, meaning this , that Chrifl will not be a

SavIour to them who dee not ecknowledse him for their Law-

Giver) and they neither contefle him their Law-Giver n?t

, C:I rheir

,.,. ._-._ ... _------_ ....... _---------- -~-----

'I/JeLihmJ sf Pyopbejjing.

10

_._-_ ,heir s~ri;;;lr, that leak ;0 b-;;juflifi;d-by the Lawcl-~" and obiervJlion of lcgall rites; 10 that thi, doctrine was a di: rea enemy [0 the foundation, and therefore the ApoiHeswcr. 10 zealous agaifllt it. Now then that other opinion, which th~ Apoilles met at }mljllfem to refolve , was bur a piece of chat opinion; for the lewes and Profelytes were drawn off frcm their lees and {ediment, by degrees, Hep by fiep, At firt], they would not endure any Ihould be raved bur rhemtelves, and their Proielytcs. Being wrought off from this heigth by Miracles andpreaching of the 'Apoltles, they admitted the Gentiles to; poflibility of lakation,but yet 10 as to hope for it by Mofcs Law. From which foolery, when they were with much adce diffwaded , an~ told that talvation was by Faith in Ch:i!t, not by works of the Law, yet they refolvd to plow With an Oxe and an Afle Ilill , and jayne Mofcl with Chriii ; not as lhadolV and .!llbHance, but in anequall confederation. Chriil Ihould fave the Gentiles if he was helpt by rJI[ofc .. but alone Chriflianiry could not doe it. Asainft this the ApoHies aflembled at Jemfolem, and made a decition of the Q_sellion, [yill" fome of the Gentiles ( iud1 only who were blended by the rgIVes in ~ommlli1ipatria) to obfervation of fuch Rites which the Iewes had derived by rradiriontrom 'N.J.,h, intending by this to {a. [idle the lewes as farre as might be with a reafonable compliance and condefcenlion j the other Gentiles who were unmixr, in sbemeane while, remaining free as appeares. in the liberty S. Paul gave the Church of Corinth of eating Idoll Sacrifice; (exprefly agauiri the Decree at JerufRlem) fa it were without Ji:andall. And yet for all this care and curious dilcretion, a little of the leaven Hill remain'd : All this they thought did 10 concern (he Gentiles, that it was totally impertinent to the Iewes ; !till they had a diHin6lion to tarisfie- the letter of the

Etlfcb.],4: i\poftles Decree, and yet to perfitl in their old opinion; and

:fecler. bUr; this [0 continued that fifteene Chriflian Bifhops in. fuccelliGn

0;. $. were circumciied, even umill-the deH,uCtion of Jlrufolem, under o,AdriAn, as EHfebili1 reports •.

'){u~. 4' FirH, By-the way let me obfervejthar never any matter of

Q.!!eHion in the Chrifiian Church was derermin d with greater Ielennity, or JIlOre.fi.ill· authority-of the Church then this ~. • -' ." - _. [liOll

21

7'be Lihut, Df PTDpbefpng.

-.-- -:---::::--:------------

Ilion concerning Circumcifion: No le fle than thewbo1eColledge----------

of the Apollles, and Elders at Jeru[alcm, ani tInt with a

Decree of {he highefl: [ancHon, Viftlm efE [piri/ttt flmiJo G'

nobis, Secondly, Either the cafe of the Hebrewes in parti- 2.

cular was omitted, and no determination concerning them, whether it were neceflary or lawfull for them to be circumcilea,or·dle it was involv'd in rhe Decree, and intended to

oblige the jewes.: If it was omitted tince the ~eltion was

d, Ie ntceJJaria (for dic~'voEi .• I 'Paul lay untoyou,if ye be circumcifd. Chrif/ /halt profit 1011 nothillg) it is very remarkable

how the Apoftles to gaine the lewes, and 'to comply wido!

{heir violent prejudice in bchalfe of c.Jl1ofc, Law, did for a

time Tolerate their ditlent eliar» in re a/iaqr!in nfceJJaria,

which 1 doubt not but was intended as a precedent for the Church to imitate for ever after: But if it was not omitted,

either all the multitude of the lewes (which S. JanJet then Mbr.'CI. their Bithop exprefled by .."Cd l-'ufi"J',~ j Thou pcft hOlV 11Mn,

myriads of Jewes tbat believe and J't are ::;,elots fi.the Law;

and Ettfohills (peaking orJu/1us fayes,he was one e» i.fillil:! mel- U'l>.E~chr. titydine eorym qlt; £.'r circllmcijione in Je[um credeb.i»: ,) I fay Hil1.

all rhefe did perifh , and their believing in Chrif] (erv'd rhem

to no other ends, but in the infinity of their torments to up.'

braid them with lrypocrifie and herefie , or if they were lav'd,

it is apparent how merciful! God was and pitiful! to humane

infirmities, {hat in a point of [0 great concernment did pity

their weaknefle , and pardon their errors, and love their good

minde , fince their prejudice was little Ieffe than infiiperable,

and had faire probabilities, at leall , it was {uch as might abute

a wife and good man (and [0 it did many) they did bono III irnl

errere; And if I mitlake nor, this confideration S. P e el r , Tim.I. urg'd as a reafon why God forgave him who was a Perfecuror

?f the Saints. becaufe he did it ignorantly in unbelief, that

IS, he was not eonvinc'din his underflanding, of the truth of

the way which he perfecnted , he in the meane while remain-

mg in that incredulity not out of malice or ill ends. but the

miflakes of humanity and a pious zeale, therefore God h"d

":tny M him: And [0 it was in this great Q!:_eition of circum-

;;:IGon. here only -was. the difference, we invincibility .:if

. . C 3 S.PIIUt'S

2 '<I -------Th--;I;ihertj-~f p~ophelYing~__ ?~.

~-------s~-p r.::I'~errm,-;;;d-;he h~~-;flY· ~f his heart cauf~d ~od to. to

pardon him as to bring him to the knowledge of Chrilt , which God therefore did becaufe it was neoeffary, HecejJillite medII; 110 Ialvarion was confifient with the aCtual! remanency of that error ; but in the Q£_eflion of Circumcifion . ~ithough .they by confequence did overt brow the end of.Chnll s co~m1tl~: ye; becauie it was fuch a confequence, whichthey bemg hindred by a prejudice not impious did not perc~lVe, God. tolerated them in rheir error till time and a continual! droppmg of the Ieffons and dictates Apofiolicall did weare it our , and t1:en the doctrine pm on it's apparell , and became cloathed wldl.ne. lleffity; they in the mesne time fo kept to the foundation, that is, Iefiis Chriii crucified and rifen againe, that although t!llI did make a violent concuflion of it. yet they held _fait wah their heart, what they ignorantly defiroyed with their tongue, (which S aut before his converfion did llOt) that G~d u~on other Titles, then an actuall derelidion of their error did brmg them (0 j~ation.

And in the defcent of fo many years, I finde not anYone

Nllmb,'J' Anathema 'pall by the Apoltles or the!r Succeffors up?n any of the Eif110p, of Jerllfl11.,." or [he Believers of [he CIrcumcifion, and yet ir was a poin~ as cle~r1y determined , and of as great neceflity as any of thole Q£elhons that at this day vex and crucifie ChriHendome.

b Eelides this QQ_efiion, and that of the Refiirre . .9io!l' com-

Nm» ,6. menc'd in the Church of Corinth , and promoted with tome variety of lenti! by Hymen£/U and Phileru. in .Aft", who [aid that the Refurredion was pall: already. I doe nor remember any other berefy nam'd in Scripture, but fueh as we.e errours of impiety .. «dumones ;1J mater;" praElic'?', fuch a. wa~ particularly, forbidding to marry, and the herelY of the 'If!co/'''tans, a doctrine that taught the neceflity of luLt and frequent fornicaricn.

Numb.7' But in all the Animadverfions againfl: errours made by the

ApoHIe! in [he New Teflament no pious penon was condcrr-n'd, no man that did invincib'y erre, or iJOlra m"Jt~; but fomcchinz that IV;\S amitle i'1 genere mornm, was [hat winch [he Apollles did redargue, And it is very comiderable, that even

they

§.Z. . __ The Liherty of prophefyifJg:-._·_· 2::_3

they of the Ci!'cllmci(,on who in _fo great numbers .did heanily

believe in Chritl and yet moll VIOlently reraine Clfcumci[ioll

and wirhour Q_!!ettion went [0 H,earn in great numbers; yet of

[he number or there very men, tiley came deeply under cenfiire,

when to their errour they added impiety: So long as it Hood

with charity and without humane ends and Jecular interells. 10

long it was either innocent or conniv'd at j but when they

grew covetous , and for filthy lucres fake taught the fame

doctrine which others .did in the limplicity of their heans,

then they turn'd Hereticks , then they were term'd Seducers;

and Tit:11 was commanded to look to the-n , and to lilence

thern , for there are mflHJ that are imracra6/e and 'IMine ""Merl,

Scdemrs of mi"dl, tJPecill!fJ they of the Circumcijio". who [educe

lVh.le hOllfol, tcachi"g ,hings that thcy ot1[,hl not,for filthy lscres

f1kc. Thefe indeed were not to be indur'd, bur to be liienced,

by the conviction of found dodrine , and to be rebuked Iharn,

Jy, and avoided. '

For herefy is not all errour of the underflanding , but an er- Nr;m~.fJ, rour of the will. And this is clearly intinuated in Scripture,

in the aile whereof Faith and a good life are made one duty,

and vice is called oppofJc:e to Faith, and herety oppo.ed to ho.

linelfe and fanCtity. So in S. Paul, for (Iilith he) the end of I TIm. r~ th« Caml1J4ndemenl i. ch4rity Oltt of ... pur« heart, and a good con-

[amee, and faith Hnfained; .; qNi!JUs qlJ'jd ab~rr{/rlJnt 'luidam ,

from which charity, and purity, and goodnelle, anJ Iinccrity,

beceu.e fome have wandred , dejle.wI'IJ"t ad vanUoquiftm. And immediately after, be reckons the oppotitious to faith and Iound

doctrine , and inflances only in vices that ilaine the lives of"

Chril~iam, the Un}':!f. the ~nc!e,,~e, th« uncbaritable, the fJer. tbe • Qyid igit,," per}"r d perfo" d,. if 1fm at,.·! qUI [al1ft doarm4 adverfiwr; thefe creduJita, yeA are the enemies of the true doClrine. And therefore S. Peter fides? opinor hal.'ing" civen in charge, to adde to our venue patience, tern- fiJdit<r honfi,l-

L L.' Ld· h lik . hi f c 'f nern elm 0

pelanee, C!lantY •• ;1 tel e: grves t IS or a reaion , for 1 credere id cll-

the Ie things be in you and abound. yee fhall be truitfilJI in the fiddem' ~,o • kJiorvledge of our Lord JdUf Cb. iff. So that knowledge and dre, hoc cfr, fai~h is i"tty P'·';cefta f"~rr't», is part of a good We ; • And fiddi~er Dci Salm PaNI cals Faith or the forme of icund words •. ,,,-1' man,,";. S ~er_' _ IUo;,e'/4' Jli":r~,,(,i,,y, the doCtrine that is according to god- ~:re. ~ a VI:

lineffe .

· I:

The Li/lerty of prophejjillg.

i:

I

...... __ .. _--_ .. -._---

The Lihert, of Prophefying.

------ ------------_

t J,,,,,,,), .r}} Iineffe, 1 y';m,6". t And veritllti credere, and ;n inj,;ji;: ;'5'."'"",0;, :Jpll- tia jibi compi:,me , are .by ~he fame Apome ?ppofed; and inti. ""ff,,; nat's o:are, th~t~IeIY and fa1th IS all.o~e tllln~; faith mutt be U)I;' 4 our l\clig.on, d,W'p.&, inure and holy too.or It IS not right. It was the here!y 0" Faith, tbe ofthe Qno,1ick.!, ~hat it was, no ~atrer how :men liv'd , fa they who lc manner did but believe 3nghr: WhICh wicked doctrine Y"lial1U4 a learc r Iletvdilli'" ned Chritiian did 10 detelt , that he fell into a quite contrary Lie< .c, c)"",· N rt d '4 .r: d'd d I iI'.1 Tvrnit, & ,011 CH- curnn ut» qUI qU'.JC)HC ere .a , t tan/11m curen lim eft

fld, C,l//;oJ, quod qtJi/que fi,ciat; And thence came the Se.st e"craliw:

Both there herefies fprang .Irom the too nice ditlinguifhino the faith frr m the piety and good life of a Chrifiian : They are both but one duty. ' However, they may be diliinguifhed , if we Jpeak like Philofophers , they cannotbe diHingui!hed, when we ipeak like Chrithans, For to believe what God hath commanded, is in order to a good life; and to live well is the produ ~ of that believing> and as proper emanation from it, as from its proper principle, and as heat is from the fire. And therefore in Scripture, they are ufed promifcuoufly in fenfe , and in ex: p.cffion, as not only being [ubj~cted in the (arne perton, but alliJ in tbe Iame faculty; faith is as truly feared in the will as in the nndertlanding, and a good li'e as meerly derives from the un. derlh~ding_as the ~iil. Both of them are matters of choyce and or election, neither of rhem an eff'e.sT narurall and invincib!e or neccflary antecedenrly (ntcej{ari{l lit jiant, nO>J n(aj{:lYIo i.Cfa.) And indeed if we remernber rhat S.'P(!ul reckons hereJy2mongit the works of the flefh, and ranks it with all manner 01: practical! impieties, we DIal! eafily perceive that if a man l~l!ngJes not a vice with his opinion, if he be innocent in his hie, though deceiv'd ill his doctrine, his errour is his mi!ery' not his crime ;,it makes him an argument of weaknefle and- a~ object of pity, but not a perfon iealed up to ruine and reprobation. -

NlJm{,. 9' ~orhas the nature of faith is,ro is the nature of herefy, con-

tranes aVlI1g the fame proportion and commenfurarion, Now faith, !f it be taken for an act.of the underllanding meerly, is to ~arre from being that excellent grace that juliifies us , that it IS 110t good at all, in any kinde bat in /!:"'tre nntur.e, and makes , the underf ~r.djfJg better in it felle, or p1eafing to God, ;uH as

llr'nglh

Q.t,

!lrength doth the arme, or beauty the face, or health the body; rhefe ~re ~aturall perfeqtions indeed> and fo knowledge and a true beh>(e IS to the underflanding. But this makes us not at all mor ... acceptable [0 God; for then the unlearned were cenainly in a damnable condirion , and all good Scholars fhould be laved, (where.as I am afraid too much of the contrary is 'true.) But un,~lTe fa~th be ~ade morall by the mi~tures of choyce, and charity , It IS 110t~t~g bur a natnrall perfection , nor a grace or a venue; and this IS demonllrably prov'd in this that by the confefTion of al! m~n ?f ~ll interefls and perfi.vaGons, in matter~ of meet. belief, invincible Ignorance is our excufe if we b~ dec~lved, which could not be, but that neither to believe aright IS commendable, nor to believe amiffe is reprovable ': but where both one and the other is voluntary and cho[el~ antecedently or confequemly, by prime e1e~ion or e.vpoft !aaq. ana f~ comes to ):Ie c~nfid~r d 111 mo!a!Jt~ -. and is part of ;0, good,lIfe or a ba? .!tfe re£peC1a·ely. J ull (o It IS 111 here(y, if it be

a debgn of amb:tlon '. a~~ making of a Sed: ,(10 Er{lfm!,f ex- "'.

pounds S.·'Pliul "'I,m«'? .ct'2p~""v, fef14~um' authsytm) If-it be : 1 .. ~en'[l!llt forfi,lt~y Iucres f~keas It was 111 fome, that wereofrhe circumci- ~ vc rrtate qUI fion.ific be of pride and love ofpreheminence,as it was 'In DI'a- fe cbarrnanc

h n.ulrirudine,

mp ,ef 3 ~II\O'.'l''''?iJ( .. " or out of pevifhneife and indociblenefle "JrJ'fl.

of dllpolitlon, or of a contentious Ipirit > that is that their

~eet are not fhod with the p:eparatioll of the Go!p~l of peace j

I~ all there cafe: the errour IS )ult [0 damnable, as is its pris-

~Iple, but therefore d~mllabJe not of it {elfe, but by reaion of

us adherencie, And If any Ihall fay any otherwife, it is to fay

tha,t lom,e men !hall be damned when they cannot help it>

pentb without their own fault, and be miferable for ever be-

caufe ,o.f their unhappineffe t? be deceived through their~\v11l

limplrcI~y and natural! or _accidenrall, but inculpable infirmity e .

For It cannot Iiand WIth the goodnelfe of God who does Numb. It';

fo kno,lV ?ur infirmities, that he pardons many tbinge in which ..

~ur w~lls mdeed. have rhe.lea(t (hare (b~t Come -they have) but

de ov~rl:or? with the v~olellc~ of an Impetuous temptation:

I fay, It IS inconf.Iicnt With hIS goodnetle to condemn'tlioie who erre where the error hath nothing of the; will in it who therefore cannot repent of their errcur , becat!1e they be,ieve

D . it

The Liberty of' ProplJej)ing.

;.;;5

,o~--~-~-~~ue, who therefore cannot mak.: compenfarion becaufe they know not that they are ryed to dereliction of it. And alchough all Hereticks are in this condition, that is. they belie ve their errous to be true; yet there.is a vall difference be. tween them who believe [0 out of limplicity , and them who are given over to believe a lie. as a punifhmene or an effed; of rome other wickedneffe or impiety. For all have a concomitant affent to the truth of what tbey believe; and no man can at rhe.fame time believe what be does not believe, but shis aflent of the undertlanding in Herericke is caufed not by force of Argument, but the Argument is made forcible. by fomething that is amiffe in his will; and although a Heretick may peradventure have a Ilronger Argumcm for his errour ahen fome true Believer for his right perfwafion; yet it .is not eonfiderable how llrong his Argument is (becau 'e in a weak undertlandiag ;« [mall motive will produce a great perfwafioo, like gentle phylick ill a weak body) but that which here is contiderable, is, what it is that made his Argument forcible. If his. invincible and harmleffe prejudice, ifhis weaknefle , if his education, if his mifl:aking piety, if any thing that hath 110 venome.nor a Ring in it, there the neartinefle of his perllvaGon is no lin, but his miiery and his excufe : bur if any thing that 1S ev ill ;N gmerc mom", did incline his undentanding , if his opinion did commence upon pride, or is nourifhed by coveccuf-' neffe, or continues through fiupid carelefheffe, or increafes by jpertinacy, or is confirmed by obtlinacy, then the innocency of (he errour is disbanded, hi, mifery is changed into a crime, and begins its own punithment. But by the way I mull: obferve, that when I reckond DpftiHa~1 amongft thole things which make a falie opinion criminall, it is to be underflood with rome difcretion and diHinCtion. For there is an obllinacy of witl wbi.h il indeed highly guilty of mitdemeanour , and when the Schoole makes pe rtinacy or obtiinacy to be the formality of herefy, they fay not true at all, unlefle it be meant the ob· ~it1acy of the will and choyce; and if they doe, they {peak lmpel'fecHy and inartificially,this being but one of the caules that makes errour become herefy; the adequate and perfea: forma~ity of herefy is whauoever makes the erronr voluntary and vi-

- .. .. dous,

~.z. The Lihmy of Propbefjillg.

~---------------

rious , as is cleare in Scripture, ~rec~~:>ning covecouflleffe, and -----~ pride. and lull, and wharioever IS VltIOUS to be its caufes· (and

in habits, or morall changes and productions, whatever' alters

the effence of a h~bite.or gives it a new formality , is not to be

reckoned the efficient but the forme) but there is alfo an obfli.

nacy (you may call it) but indeed, is nothing but a refolurion

and confirmation of underflanding.whieh is not in a mans power

honellly to alter. and it i.l.not all the commands of humanity,

that can be Argumem fufficienr to make a man lea ve believing

that for which he thinks he hath reafon, and for which he bath

fueh Arguments as heartily convince him. Now the perti-

Iling in an opinion finally, and againfl all the confidence and imperioufllelfe vf humane commands, that makes not this cri-

minall obflinacy, if the erring perfon have fo much humility of

will as to Iubmir [0 whatever God (ayes, and that 110 vice in

his will hinders him from believing it. So that we mull:

carefully dillinguifh continuance in opinion from obltinacy,

confidence of underflanding from peevifhneffe of affection, ~

not being convinced fro~. a relol~ti?n never t? be conviec'd, up.

on humane ends and VltlOUS princlples r SelmNI quofdlflfl qN,d Lib.~.Epifu. flmtl imbi{,erint nolle depoNtre ,"Ie propo[itllln fou", faCile tNutllre,

fld falvo inur colle gill pacil dJ' conc:oreii£ vinculo Iju<td"m propria

qH£ apud ft [cme! fi"t "forpltta reti'ltre; i2!Y i1J re nee lin vim

'UiqIl4", facimuI, aflt legem damNS, faith S.9pr;"I1. And he

bimfelfe was iuch a one; for hee perfitled in his opinion of re-

baptization untill death, and yet his obflinacy was not called

criminall, or his errour turned to herefy. But to return.

In this fenfe, it is that a Hererick is tiu7.u."""P/7~ • felfe con- N*m{, l!I"

demn'd, not by an immediate expreffe fentence of underfland, • ! ~.

ing. but by his own aa or fault brought into condemnation. As

it is in the Canon Law, Notorilll percujJor Clerici is ipfo jure excommunicate, not per leNlentiam latam ab hom;"e, but a jure.

r\o man hath paffed fenrence pro Iri/JUntzli, but Law hath de-

creed it pro ediElo: So it is in the cafe of a Heretick, The un,

derilanding which is judge, condemns him 1I0t by an expreife

fenrencej fer he erres with as much firnpliciry in the refulc J as

h~had malice in the principle: But there iSftl.ll1JliA latil P, jure,

his will which is his lawJ Lhat hath condemn'd him. And this

-._ . D 2 .-. i:

The Liberty of ProphefJing. Q.z~

------__:_

- Is gathered-from that faying ors. P,ml, 2 Til1",.I3. But e'IJlil

men (lnd flducers {halt WAX worft "lid w.r[e, deceiving lind being deceived: Pirfl , they are evil! men; malice and peevHhnelle is in their wills; then they rum Herericks and [educe others, and while they groN worfe and worie, the errour is-matter of their underflanding, they are deceiv'd rhemfelves , give" .ver II be. litve a lie, faith the Apofile: They fira play the knave, and then pl~y the foole , they fira {ell themfelves [0 the purchale of vaine-glory or ill ends, and then they become poffeffed with a lying fpirit, and believe thofe things heartily , which if they were honefi, they 1110uld with God. Grace difcover and dil· claime, So rhat now we fee that b011il fiduin f~lfo IIrt;cII19, a hearty perfwafion in a fa~re article does norclwayes make the errour to be efieemed involuntary; but then only when It is as innocent in the principle as it is confident in the pretent perfwalion, And fiich perfons who by their ill lives and vitious aCtions, or manifell defignes (for by their fruits yee 111a11 know them) give te(limony_ of filch criminall indifpofi. [ions, fo as competent jLldges by humane and prudent efiimare may 10 judge them, then they are to be declared Hereticks, and avoided. And if this were not true, it were vaine that the Apoflle commands us to avoid an Hererick : For no externall aCt can paffe upon a man for a crime that is not eognofcible. _

'){.um~. !:I. Now every man that erres,though in a matter of confequerce,

10 long as the foundation is intire, cannot be furpeCted juftly guilty of a crime to give his error a formality of herely: for we tee many a good man miferably deceiv'd (as we fhall make it appeare afterwards) and h: ~bat is th.e bell- amongH men, certainely bath (0 much humility to ~hl~k he may. be eafily de: ceiv'd , and twenty to one but he It in fame thing or other; yet if hi. error be not voluntary, and part of an ill life, then becaufe he lives a good life, he is a good man, and therefore no Heretick : No man is a Heretick again a his will. And if it be pretellded rhat every man that is deceived, is therefore proud , becaufe he does not fub~ithis llndeEH~nding to the au' ~horiry of God or Man refpeCtlveIy, and fo hIS errour becomes :1 here[y: To this I anfwer. That there is no Chriflian11lan

- . . ~

The Lihertyof Prophefjing.

out will fubmit his underHanding to God, and believes what. foever he hath [aid; but aIwayes provided, he knowes that God harh faid fo, elfe he mull doe his duty by a readinefle to obey when he fhall know it. Butforobedience or humility of rhe nn, derf!anding towards men, that is a thing of another comideration , and it muf] fira- be: made evident that his underflanding mull be fubmitted to men, and who thofe men are, muft allo be certaine, before it will be adjudg'd a Linne not to rub. mit. But if I miHake not Chrifis faying [calt 110 man rtJaf.er lipan tilrth] is fo great a prejudice agaiuil: this pretence as I doubt it will goe neere wholy to make it invalid. S~ that as [he 1V0rthipping of Angels is a humi.iry indeed, but it is voluntary and a will-worfhip to an ill fence, not to be excufed by the excellency of humility, nor the venue of Religion : fo is the relying upon the judgement of man, an humility roo, but [uch as comes not under that ,;".« .. "l m,-e",r, that obedience of Faith which is the duty of every Chrifiian , but intrenches upon that duty which we owe to Chrill as an acknowledgemen: that he is our great MaHer, and the Prince of the Catholike Church. But whether it be or be 110tl, if that be the Qll_dtion whether the difagreeing perfon be to be determined by the dictates of men, I am Cure the didates of men mull not determine -him in that C2!.!_efiion, but it muli be (etded by lome higher principle: So that if of that ~aion the -dil~ agreeing penon does opine, or believe, or erre 60/1!i fide, he is not therefore to be judg'd a Heretick , becauie he fubmirs not his underflanding , becaufetill it bee.fcfficiently made cerraine t? him that hee is bound co Iubznir , he may innecently and ploufly difasree, and this not fubmitting is therefore not a crime (and 10 cannot make a herefy) becaufe without a clime he may lawfully doubt whether he be bound to fubmit or no, for ~hat's the Qaeftion. And if in fuch Q!!.eltion5 which have inlluence upon a whole fyHemeofTheology, a man may doubt lawfully if he doubts heartily, becaufe the authority of men being the thing ill Q.!!.eil:ion, cannot bee the judge of this ~Hipn, and therefore beingrejeCled, or ( which is all one) being quetlioned , that is', not believed, cannot render "he doubtil1S perron guilty of pride, and by confequence

D 3 !!Oll

'[he Liherty of prophefy!_~~ __ ?2, not of here[y, much more may particular queflions be doub~~ of and the authority of men examined, and yet the doubting pe;[cn be humble enough. and therefore no Heretick for all this pretence. And it woul? be. confidered tha.t hu~Il1ty IS a duo ty in great ones as well as In I~lOtS. And as Ill.fenou!s ~u.rt not difaaree without reaton, [0 neither mufl fuperiours pretcribe to othgrs without [ufliciem authority, evidence and neceflity (00:

And if rebellion be pride, [0 is tyranny; and it being in millleri;; intel!d/uaIj, both may be guilry of pride of'underftaoding, tomerimes the one in imp.oli!1g, Iometirnes the other 111 a caufelefle difaareeine . but in the inferiours it 19 then Dilly the want of bun';'ility, t>\~hen the guides impofe or prefcribe \Vba.t God hath alia tauaht and then it is the dirobeying Gods dictates, DO[ mans th~t makes the Iinne. But then this conti deration wi!! aho i:uervene, that as no diEtate of God obliges men to beliere ir, unleflc I know it to be luch: So neither will any of the dictates of my {uperiours, engage my faith, unlefle 1 alfo know, or have no rca (on to dif believe, but that they are warranted LO teach them to me> therefore, becaufe God hath! taught [be lame to them which if I once know. or have no rea (on to think the codrrary, if I difagree, my (inne is not in refilling humane authority, but divine. And therefore the whole b~,G. netle of tubmirting our underHanding to humane authority, comes to nsthing ; for either it re!blves into rhe direct duty of fubrni[ting to God, or if it be fpoken of abHrattedly" it ii no duty at all.

But this pretence of a necefllry of humbling the underfianding, is none of the meaneti arts whereby. Iome perlo.t;S have invaded, and ufurpt a power over mens faith and coniciences, and therefore we Iliall examine the pretence afterwards, and try if God hath invetied any Man or company o~ Me~ wJ[h tuch a power. In the meane time, he that j.ubmlts ~IS underlT2nding to all that be howes God hath Iaid, and IS rcady to Iubmir to all that he hath faid if he but know it, deny· jng his OWIl affections and ends, and interefis and humane per·, fwations, Jaying them all down at the foot ofbis great. M~fler Je[us <;hriil:, that man hath brought his underHand~ng Int~ !t1b)ccholJ, and every proud tbought unto the obedlel1Ce ?

Chnfl

-------:-~~---------- .. - .. ,-.------.--

The Libert, of Prophe[ying.

(hrill, and [his is .;""".,,) "":,,~;, the obedience of Faith \~hkh

i; the dmy of a ChriHian. '

But [0 proceed: Betides there herefies noted in Scripture N. [, r . the age. of the Apoflles , and that which followed, was in: IJIIJ. 4· fefled wI.til ?cher .hereties; but (ucn as bad the i2~ne formality 3ndmllIglllty WIth the precedent, all of them either lilch as

taught practicall impieties, or denyed an Article of the Creed.

EgchpiJI in EufcbiHt reckons reven only prime heretics that

Ji:lUgnr to defloure the purity of the Church: That of Simon,

that of Th,bHttl, of etc.bius,of Dojitheus, of G.,·thms, of A14~

bothws; I Iuppofe C.ril1thm to have been the Ieventh mall,

tbough he exprelfe him !lOt: But of tnefe,except the lall:, we .....

know no particulars; but that EgcftFpm [ayes, they were falit

Chritls , and chat their do&rine was directly againH God an.I

his blefled Sonne. U'f{.lIandcr alfo was the firH of a Sect, bur

be bewitched the people with his Sorceries. C.rinth:u hi:

doctrine pretended Enthuliafm or a new Revelation, and ended

in lull: and impious theorems in matter of uncleannefle, The' fl •• vu fNlr vioHlW denyed Chrifl to be the Sonne of God, and affirmed lib.r , de br," him ";ll.l. J:.!';pr.!'7fa •• begot by narurall generation, (by ceca-

lion of which and the importunity of {he v.1ftan Bifhops ,

s. John writ his Gofpel) and [aught the obfervation of .Mofts

Law. B4itidel caught it lawfull [0 renounce the faith, and

take {aile oaths in time ,.. Peuecuricn, CArpocram was a

very bedlam, halfe-witch , and quite mad-man; and practizd

luff, which he cald rhe Jeerer operations to overcome the Po.

rcntates of the world. Some more there were, but of the

fame nature and pelt, not of a nicety in dirpute, not a quefiion

J Jeerer Philolophy, not of aromes , and undifcernable propo-

!itiOllS, belt open defiances of all faith, of all fobriety, and cf

all fanCHty, excepting only the doctrine of the Millenaries,

which in the belt Ages was efleemed no here[y, but tree

Catholike Doctrine, though fince it hath judice done to ir,

and hath fuffered a jutl condemnation.

Hitherto, and in rhefe inilances, the Church dia efleeme NIlf1J6. l! S, and judge of herefies, in proportion to the rules and charadere

of Fait h, For faith beillg a Doctrine of piety as welJ as truth.

that which was either deHrucHv~ of fundamenrall verity, or

. cf

.The Liberty of Prophefyi!!g" §.2,

____ _:..___

of Chriflian fanetity was againll: Faith, and if it made a SeC! was herefy i if not, it ended in perfonall impiety and wentn~ farther. But rhofe who as S.Paul Iayes, not only did fueh thi)]"s bur had pleafure in the_m thar do~ them, a~d therefore taugh{ o.thers todo what they impioullydid dogmatlze,they were Here. ricks both in matter and form, in dothine and deponmem towards God, and towards man.and judicable in both tribunals.'

But the. Sc!!~[lJr~ an~ Apoll?licall Sermons, having expret: fed mofi high indignnion agalOlt thefe matters of impious Seas, leaving them under prodigious characters , and horrid rcprelentments , as calling. them men of cormp' minds, reprobates c&;;cerning the faith, given over to jlrong de/lljion! to the bd"fe of" Ip, falfo e/fpoj/!u, f;t/fo Prophett, men AI· r;'lijJ c)ndemned, I1II4 t~at bJ themftlves, .Anti.chriflt. en,mill ':' God; and her~{y It lelfe, til 1V0rk.. of the fi,{h! o.:cIHding from tbe k!.ngd~me of heaven; left fiich impreffions 10 the minds of 21 [heir Iuccetlours, and [0 much zeal aaainH filch SeCls that if any opinion ccmrnenc'd in the Churd;', not heard of before . it oftentimes had this ill luck [0 run the fame fortune witl; .2~ old. herety. For becaufe (he Hereticks.did bring in new opi, !'lIOnS lD .mauers of great concernment , every opinion de novo brought 10 wa~ l~abl~ to rhc lame exception j and becauie the .degree of malignity In every errour was oftentimes undircernable, and moil: commonly indemon'rable, their zeale was alike Gga1l1H ,all; ~nd thole Ages being full of. piety, were fi.red 10 be abuled with an overactive zeale as wife perfons and Iearnei are with a too much indifferency. '

But it came to pafle , that the further rhe filcceffion went from the Apoflles, [he more forward men were in numbrira herefies, and that ~po~ flighrer and more .uncertain jjroundf. Some foor-tieps ot this wee fhall finde If we confider the SeCts that are Iaid to have {pnll18 in the firfi three hundred years, and they were pretty and quick in their (prings and ~alls; fourefcore and teven of them are reckoned. They were indeed reckoned afterward, ~nd though when they were alive, [hey were not condemn'd wah as much rorwardnetle, as aim th.ey I'Vc.r~ dead; ,yet el',en then, confidence began to mingle wah opunons le!1e neceflar; I end mif.akes-in judgement were

oftere:

~.I. The Li~erty of prophefJing'33

~r-2-nd-:--m-o-re-p-'ub""l-ik-e-t""h-en they Ihould have been. Bu~'if----[hey were fo_~ard in [heir cenfures (as fome times fome of

them w:re) It IS no great wonder they were deceiv'd, For

what principle or 1</1/7"f/0' had they then to judge of herefies

or condemn [hem. befides the lingle di<5\ates o~ decrerals of

private Bi!hops? . for Scriptllr~ was indifferently pretended by

all; and concermng the meamng of It, was the Q£eHion : now

there was no generall Councell a!l that while, no opportunity

[or the Church to convene j and If we fearch the communica-

!(:ry letters of the Bifhops and Martyrs in thofe daycs , w~

Olal! fin~e but few Ientences de~r;tory concer.ning any CllLelH.

all of Fmh , or new {plUng opinIOn. And III thole that did

f~r ouguc appeares, the per Ions were mif-reporred, or their opi~

mons miflaken , or at rnoll , the fenrence of condemnation

was no more but this j Such a Bifhop who hath bad the aood

fortune by potlerity to be reputed a Catholike, did cotl!emn

Iuch a man or filch an opinion, and yet him{elfe err'd in as

c?nG?!!ra\Jle matrers , but t1le~ting with ~etter neighbours in

his hie nme, and a more charitable potleriry, hath his memo-

ry preferv'd in honour. It appears plain enough in the cafeof

Nicholas the Deacon of !Antioch, upon a miliake of his words

whereby he [aught 'iT<tp";>s,,~ 7; caix, to abule the fldh, vi~;by

a0s of autlerity and telte denyall, and mortification; fome

wicked peop'e that were glad to be miflaken and abuted into

a p)eahng crime, pretended that be taught them to abu[e the

flefh by filthy commixtures and pollutions : This mitlake was

tranfinitted [0 pufierity with a full cry, andacts afterwards

found out [0 jutlifie an ill opinion of him. For by S.lller.rne's

time it grew out of QQeHion, but that he was the vilet] of

men, and the worfl of Hereticks , N,cofam Antiochentu, om- Ad ·CreL'liJ.

ni~m immlmditillrllm condi:or chero« dllxit f.t.min(or. And a- . ,

game,. ~1. NlCoiaHI 'DiAcon~. ita immll~d~1 e xtitit lit et!am in Spill. de F~· ' p"fp' Dom,m n<fat ptrpetr""t: Accutations that while the b.ano l'l'hl good man liv'd were never thought of: for his daughters were

Virbins, and his Sons Iiv'd in hoiy coelibate all their lives , .and

himteite Iiv'd ill chafl Wedlock; and yet his memory had

rotted in Ferpetuall infamy, bad not l;od (in whofe light, the

memory of the Saints is precious) preterv'd it by.the telti-

E mOPl

I.;

I"

it;~-'~"~-~---'--T-';;LibertJ 6f Pfophefying. ~.2.

;Z~,St'o:;~ mony of' Clement c.Ale>.:andrinm , and from him of t Ellfevms and NicephorrlJ. But III the Catalogue of Herericks made

t _ t. 3,0':;, by P hil41rius he {lands markt with a black character as guil.

Illn, ty of many hereties : By which one teHimony we may. !lue{fe what rrult is to be given to thole Catalogues: Well, This good man had ill luck to fall into unskilfull hands at firf!:; but Ire. )1,Ult,}tljlifJ UY[flrlr, La8:antius, (to name no more) had bet. ter fortune; for it being Hill extant in their writings thac !hey were of che Millenary opinion, Papias before, and Nep'l after were cenfiired hardly, and the opinion put into the catalogue of herefies. and yet thefe men never fufpecled as guilty, buc like the children of the Captivity walkt in the mid{l of the flame, and not (0 mcuh as the Irnell of fire pa!Ted on them. Bur the uncertainty of there things is very memorable, in the Story of 8ujlathius Bi!bop of eAnliocb conrefting with EUfeVlU1 P IImphiflis .. 8uftathiul accu'ed EU[ebiliS for going about to corrupt the Nicenc Creed, of which Dander he then ae.

:L'!.C~'l' quirred himfelfe (faith Socrates) and yet he is not cleared by pofleriry , for {till he is lurpe6led, and his fame not clearer However t'fI[e6iul then [cap'd well, but to be quit with hi, Adverfary, he recriminates and accufes him to bea favourer of Sa{;e/fJUI, rllther the« of the Njcene Cllnonl; an Imperfect accularion, God knowes, when the crime was a finpirion, proveable only by actions capable of divers conf!:ructions,. and at the molt, made but (orne degrees of probability, and the faa it felfe did not confif!: in indivifibili, and therefore was to Hand or faJ!, to be improv'd or leflend according to the will of the Jlldges, whom in this caure EUftiltbifis by his ill fortune and a potent Adverfary found harfh towards him, in (0 much that he was for berely depofed in the Synod of Antiocb; and though this was layd open ill the eye of the world as being molt ready at hand, with the greareti eare charged upon every man, and with greatef!: difficulty acquitted by any man; yet there were orher Ii.Jlpicions raited upon him privately, or at leatl ralkt of n: poft f"Ci~, and pretended as caufes of his deprivation, lealt the . fentence Ihould feem too hard for the fidl. offence. And yet what they were no man could tell, faith the !lory. But it is Dbfervable what Sor;rlfW faith, as in excure of fueh proceedings,

.. Th.

~.2.

The Libert) of Propbefj'ing.

--_._---_.

T;t, ~ 69.i raJ-'Tu, ~lI'~o:J ;rtf x~nufltl"iJ'~J' 1:C/£1, t:i t"-rJqjI(l'iJ'CI, L. r , C'. Z4.

Ktt1H71''i1~1H (t ~~ dO'!.G» h'~'I1HtTd,:) dt}td.' rf tt'(fI(3dd., ~ ~i"l:m.'· It

" is the manner among tbe Bifhops , when they accute them

" that are depofed, they call them wicked, bur they publifh

<. not the actions of their impiety. It might poffibly be that

the Bi!bop; did it in tendernefle of their reputation, but yet

hardly; for to punifh a perfon publikely and bigbly ,is a cer-

rain declaring the penon pnnifhed guilty of a high crime, and

[hen to conceale the fault upon pretence to prelervehis repu'

tation, leaves every man at liberty, to ccnjecture what he

pleafeth .who p0!fibly, will believe it V'!orfe than it is, in as

much as they think hIS judges .10 ,cham~ble as there~ore- to

conceale the fault, leaH the pubhflllng of It fhould be his grea.

telT punifhment, a~d the fc~nd.all greate,r lO,en his dfprivati.. . .. ". on .• However this courfe, If It were Jull In any, was untafe SIl"r~ICltC.-

. ,. iah db' Id t' d pnrcat vmum

in all; fo: It ~I g t un oe more t. en It cou pre erve, an. t"m I3lfe pufil-

therefore IS of more danger, then It can be of cham~. It IS IUOl, Qu('d retherefore roo probable that the matter was .not very faire , for guur majus

in publike fenrence the acts ought to be publike ; but that they credirur efle rather pretend herefy to bring their ends about, Ihewes how m;lulll,Mar.: eafie it is to impute that c!ime , alld, how forward they were to tta ,

doe it: And tbat they might and did then as eaiily call Her~.

tick as afrerward, when Vtgilim was condemned of he~e(y tor

faying there were 4Antipodu; o~ as the Fryars of late. did, who

ftl!peCfed Greek and Hebrew ot herefy , and cald then Protef-

lars Hereticks - and bad like to have put T erenc« and E emoft-

h,xes into th: lnde:t' Exp"rgato,im; Iure enough they raiJd at

them pr6 concjQne, therefore becaufe they underjiood them nor,

and had reafon to believe they would accidentally be enemies

10 their reputation among the peopl~,

By this inflance which was a while after the 'N.jcme Conn- NNIJiV.tR; cell, where the aCts of the Church were regular, judiciall andor-

dcrly, we may guefle at rhe Iemences pailed upon herefy , at

iuch times and in fuch caies, when their prccetle was more

private, 3Ed their acts more rumultuary, their information Idle

certaine, and therefore their miflakes more eafie and frequent •

.. lInd it is remarkable in the ca.e of the herdy of Mont.lfNI, the

1i:ene of whole bere(y lay within tIle nrH rhree.hundred yeares •

E - z rhcngh

'The Liherty sf Prophefying.

~--------------~~~~~~~~~--~---[hough it was reprefented i.n t~e ~aralogues afterwards, and

poflibly the mitlake concerning It, IS to be put upon the fcore ot Epipbanim, by whom UltmWtUl and his Followers were put into the Ca'~l?BUe of Here ticks for c~mma~ding ~blo1inence from meats, as If they \'V~re unclean, on.J ot t~emlelyes [Inlawfirll. Now the truth was. c.5}{.ntanUI faid no luch tiling. but commanded Ireouent abflinence , enjoy ned dry diet. and ,n aicetick Table.n'ot for con'cience lake, but tor Difcipline , and yet b.caule he did rhis with tOO much rigour and Hricinefle of mandate. the Primitive Church miflik'd it in him, as being 100 necre their errour, who by a Judaicall fuperHitian abflain'd from mears as [rom uncleanneffe. This by the way will much concern them who place too much fanElity in fuch Rites and AEls of Difcipline , for it is an ~ternall Rule and of never fail: in" truth, that iuch abflinences If they be obtruded as AEls ot orfoinall immediate duty and fimctiry, are unlawful! and JuperitiO~lS; if they be for Diiciplinc they may be good,. but of no v.ery"reat profit; it is that d~"J'f" .n, a<;'!-,,,,1@- which S. Paul fayes "profitethbllC little; and jufl: in the fame degree the Primitive Church efleem'd them; for they therefore reprehended c.5}{olltilHlIS, for urging u.lch ablline.n_c.es with roo much earneflnefle, rhoush but in the way of Dilcipline , for that It was no more, T.:'tull;"'I, who was himfelfe a t.J,{onM"ijf, and knew belt the opinions of his own Seer, reflifies , and yet EpiphtliJ!111 reporting the errours of U!1ontan1'l1 ,comL"?ends thac. w.h~ch MOI1MnU! truly and really taught, and which the Prirnirive Church condernrrd in him, and therefore reprefenrs that here I)' to another fen!e. and affixes that to Montanm, which EpiphaPlim beliv'd a herety , and yet which c.}'I;[ont""Ht did not teach. And this alio among many other things leilens my opinion very much of the integrity or dilcreticn of the old Catalogues of Herericks., and much abates my confidence towards memo

'\1. 6 And now that I have. mentioned themcafualiy ill palling C'.,,_~m • )9· by, I {ball give a fhorr account of them; for men are much mitlaken , lome in their opinions concerning the truth ?f them, as believing them to be all true. rome concerning rheir purpofe as thinking them fufficiellt not onlyto condemnh ~~l

t o.e

~.2.

---'-~------"

The Lil;erty of Prophef!ing.

37

thofe opinions. there called herericall , but to be a preccdenr to all Ages of the Church to be free and forward in calling Hererick. But he that confiders the Caraiogues thcmfelvcs , as [hey are collected by &'pipb .. "iul. Phila(frilll, and S . .Au/lin,fllall finde that many are reckoned for Hereticks lor opinions in matters dilputable , and undererrnin'd.and of no conlequenccj and that In rhefe Catalogues of Hereticks there are men numbred for Hereticks , which by every fide reJpe&ively are acquilted; fo that there is no company of men in the world that admit there Catalogues as good Records, or fufficient fen. rcnces of condemnation. For the Churches of the- Reformation, I am certain, [hey acquit Aiirilif tor denying prayer for the dead, and the Eujlathianl for denying invocation of Saints, And I am partly of opinion that [he Church of Rom~ is. not w illi!1g [0. ca.ll the C.llyridiaHI Hereticks for offerinJ a ,Cake (0 the Vlrgm_UlfarJ' unlefle Ihe a110 will runne (he hazard of (he fame ientence for olfering Candies [0 her : And that they

will be glad with S . ./lu(Ji" (1.6. de 1Jd!~ff. C. 86.) to excu.e " D.'[l;c'!J.l, the • Tertull;anifll for picturing God in a vifible corporail r~:ltr,g(Jl'.C, reprefentrnenr, And yet the!e SeCts ale put in the black ,_,

book by Eptphaniut and S. &AuRin, and lfidorc refpectively,

1 remember alfo that the OJTen, are cald Herericks , be-

caule they refuied to worfhip toward the Eafl ; and yet in

dl~t diflenr , I finde not [he malignity of a' herefy , nor any'

~hmg againil: an Article of Faith or good manners; and it be-

I~g only in circumflance, it were hard, if they were otberwile

pIOUS men and rtue believers , to lend them to Hell tor filch'

a trifle. The Parermeneutll. refufed to follow other mens di.9ates'

jik.e l1eep, but would expound Scripture according to the bdt'

evidence themlelves could finde and yet were caUed Herericks· Enth),Ill.·

.. vherh h d d ' The " P Iici . r b part.t i nr.c r ,

:' er t ey expoun e true or no, . e . . ~H lCIam [or e- El'jl,hall.b.trci~

tng offended at croifes, [he l'roclMHf for faymg 10 a regenerate 6 ••

min all his finneswere~not quite dead, but only curbed and

aJl\Vaged, were called Hereticks, and 10 condemned; tor ought

! knew for affirming that which all pious men reele in them-

lelves to be too true. And he that will confider how numerous'

the .Caralogues are, and to what a volumn they ,are come in

'lhelI laHcolleClions, to no je(~e then five hundred .and twenty

. E3 ~.

-- S8 ~"-'-------'-The Liberty of PropbefJing.

(i~-aom~~h-~~eli~i and Hereticks are reckoned by Prllieo/«;) may tbink thar if a re-rrenchmenr were jultly made of truths, and all impertinencies, and alJ opinions, either fEll diipurable, or lefle conliderable , the number would much decreate , aad therefore thar the Caalogues are much amitfe , and the name Herecick is made a terrimlam";/fl11I to affright people frem their belie fe, or to dilcounrenance the perfons of men, and difrepute them , that their Schooles may be empty and their Di.

fciples few.

So that r (11al1 not neede to inllance how that fome men

were called Herericks by I'bi/ajlriHI for rejeCting the rranflation of the Lxx. and following the Bible of AqNi/a, wherein the !jreat faults mentioned by Phi/a/frills, are that he tranflares XP''''' Eli., not Chrijlu11I, but ,m[f;uWJ Dei, and in Head of Emanuel w rites Deus "obl'''l1I. But this mof!: concerns them of the Primitive Church with whom the rranflation of .AquilA was in great repurarion.zr e>Jim vcluti plul A qHibHfda", ••••• intelle:.:iJ!e /""d.lI,.r. It was fuppofed he was a greater Clerk and underfiocd more then ordinary; it may be fo he did. But whether yea or no, yet Iince the other Tranilators by the Confeflion of Pbtla!lriuf, 'lfl"dlltn prd)termiftJfe "ece[frtMe tn· gente ugerer.tur, if Iome wife men or unwire did follolV a Tranflarour who underflood the Original! well (for fo v1. 'luilll had learn t amongH the J ewes) it was hard [0 call men Herericks for following his Tranflarion , efpecially (ince the orber Bibles (which were thought to have in them ccntradi.ctories , and. it ~as confeffed , bad omitted [orne things) were excufed by necefliry, and the others necet1ity of following vfquit«, when they had no better was not at all confidered, nora

~ P;,iL,Dr 99' letle crime [hen herely laid upon their {core ". Such another <0; inrer h:r , was the herely of the ~rfodtcimani; for the E<tjferliJ'gl were ieucos . n~lt1;e.. al1 proclaimed Hereticks for keeping Eatier after the manner ~:'~lI~":il~lfi~~ of the EaH; and as S.muu and '1-{jc'phorHI report, the Bifhcp Iibro Gcnef.ir:« of Rome was very forward to Excommunicate all the Bilhops of rcrprcrantur the Jell,r _A/a lor obterving the Featt according to the Tradi:',:;:,'~::,',n 8:0~~:, cion of their Ancetlors , though they did it modeHly, quietly, pctic,sg,oti,m and wirhour faClion; and althougb they prerendedand were as :ipiri:u,(antti. well able (0 prove their Tradition from S.John,of (0 obi erving

It,

fll1mv.2o.

?2,

§.1. The Li/;ert10f prophe/jing.---· -~--

it, as the Well ern Church could prove their Tradition deri-

vative frem S.Pmrand ~.PaTl/. If fuch things ~s tbele make lip

the Catalogues of Hereticks (as we fee they did) their accounts

differ frem the Precedents they ought to have followed that is

rhe cenfiires Apoltolicall,and therefore are un{afe Preced~nts fo;

~s; and unleffe they took the Ii berry of uling the word herery,

in a lower fenCe, tlJ~n the world now doth. (ince the Councels

have ~ee.n forward III pro~oun.cl1lg Anathema, and took it only

[or a dllhnCl: fenle, and a differing periwallOn III matters of opi.

Ilion and minute. Article~, we cannot ~xcufe the perlons of

the .men. '. But If they intended the CC1me of herery againfi

thole o.pllllons a.s they ~ald :hem down ill their Catalogues,

that crime (I lay) which IS a work of the Relli, which ex.

eludes from the Kingdome of Heaven all that I {hall lay

againfl: [~em, is, that the cauflefle curr~ fuall return empty, and

no man IS damn'd the fooner, becaufe his e.nemy cryes ;:, ""Up"",

acd they that were the Judges and Accufers might erre as well

as the perions accufed, and might need a, charirable confiruCtoll

of their opinions and practices as the ocher. And of this we

ace f~re they ha~ no war~al?t from ~ny rule of Scripture or

practice A~oHollcall, for driving fo (u:loufly and hallily in Iirch

decretory Ienrences, But I am WIllrng rather to believe their

[enie 01 the word here!l was more gentle then with us it is

and for that they might have warrant fi:om Scripture.: '

But ~y the way, I ob'erve that altho~ghthe[eCatalogues are Nflm!;, ~:, ~ great :nHance to Ihew that tbey whole Age and {pirits were

rarre d!llant from the .A poIHes, had alia other Judgements

:ollcermng F~ltb andherety , then the .Apoll:les had, and the

Ages A~ofio!JcaJl! yet there Catalogues although they are re-

porn 01 hereties 10 the fecond and third Ages, are not to be

put upon the account of thofe Ages, nor to be reckoned as an

mllance of their judgement, which although it was in lome

degrees more culpable then that of their Predeceffors , yer in

relpea of the follow!llg .Ages it was innocent and modefl, But

there Catalogues I Ipc:ak of, were fet down according to the

{~~(e o~ the. then pretenr ages, in which as they in ail proba-

bJ!l~y did differ from the apprehenfions of the former Cen-

!'lCIts, [0 it is certain, .there were difiering le~ming5,' other

fancies,

! l

,40 ~ T_he Liherty of Prophefying.

fancies, divers reprefemments and judgements of men depending upon circumllances which the firH Ages knew, and the 101- lowing Ages did not; and th~refore, the Catalogues \\er,e drawn with lome truth, but Idle cerraimy, as appears 111 their differing about the Authours of fame herelics ; feverall opimOIlS imputed to the fame, and fome put I~ the roll ?f Herericks by one, which the other lefr our; which to me IS an A~~ eumcnt that the Colle6tors were derermll1\j , ":Ot by the fen.e ~d fentenccs 0" the three firH Ages.bm by themlelve~, andlo~e circurnflances about them.which to reckon for ~eretlcks, which nor. And that they thcmielves were th,e p!!me Judges, or perhaps lome in their own Age tog,erher with them; but time was not any lil!lieient exr~IDall )udlClt.ory competent. to declare berely that by any publike <;r fi.lflielfl1t !enten~e or a~s of Co rt had liuni!11ed them with warrant for their Catalogues, And therefore they are no Argument fuflicient that ~he firll Ages of the Church, which certainly were the ~ell, dl~ much recede from that which I [hewed to be the ienfe ot the Scripture, and the pra6iile of the Apoilles ; rhey all contenred rhemfelres with the Apotlles Creed as t~e rul~ of rhe Falth;o and therefo~e were not forward to judge of here.y.buc by analogy to their rue of Faith : And thole Cata]oguesmade after rhere Ages are.not iullicienr Arguments th~t they did _othe!\,:i~e ; but rat~er ot the weakncfle of Ierne perions , or ot ~he fP:!lt and gen,llis of the Aoe in which the Compilers livd , In which the device of calli;g all differing opinions by the name of herefies , might gro\V to be a detien to Icrve ends, and to prom?te II1t~re!ls, .as ofien as an act o?zeale and jllfJ: indignation agalllH eVI!1 pertons de-

tlrovers of the Faith and corrupters of manners. , ,

T t: For whatever private mens cp,ini.ons, were, yet til! the Nle:"!

Jlillmv, .2· , he Auorll C d'lld

Councell, the rule ofFaitb was inure 111 t e Aport es ree, ,- f

provided they retained that" ~a(ily t~ey broke not, the Ul1lty ? Faith, however differing opilltOl1S mIght po!li~ly commence h? [[Ich rhinos in which a tibeny were bet~er lufl-ered t~en ~ro Ihired wit]\ a breach of charity. And this appears exactly lDathe Q!!eliion between S. CjpYi4n of0a:tha,ge, and Stepha" £1 lOp of Rome in which one inHanee It 15 eane to lee what was lawfull and fafefor a wile and good man, andyetbow other, b~~,ae~

~,2. The Li6my olp-;~phiiYl;;i-· --~-----.--- -4~~

~~en the~ to be abured by rha t temptation, IV hich fince hath invaded all Chriflendorne, S .Cypru» reo baptized Herericks, and thoughr he was bound io to doe; calls a Synod in <Alrieh as being Metr<;politan, and confirms his opinion by the con':fenr ol his Suffragans and Brethren, but flill with 10 much 010- deHy that if any man was of another cpinicn , he judg'd him not, but gave him that liberty that he defired himfdf; Stephen Bil1~op of Rome growes a_ngr¥, Excommunicates the Bilhops of tApa and AfY'CA, that In divers Synods had contented to rebaptizarion, and without peace, and without charity, condemns them tor Herericks, Indeed here was the melt mixture and comunction of unlikelihoods that I have obierved, Here was errcur of opinion with much modefiy and lweemeffe of tern. per on one i.de , and on the other, anover-active and impetuous zeal to arteli a truth. it u.es flat to be ro , for errour u[ually is iiipported with confidence.and truth lupprdled and difcounten.nc".; 01 indifferency. But that it might appear that the errcur 1""\ rhe ;:one bur tile unchan.ablenefle , Stephan

was 'C,uC' 'j a zea'ous vnd Iur icu- perion , and S. * Cjprian 'Vid,S,AlIg,!: ti~oljg'~ ccc.-iv'd , yet a very good man, and of great fan6tity. ,.C.6,dc,uJpt>l. Ft., ,,:,hough every crrour is ro be oppofcd , yec according [0 ccnna Domr., ti;c.J,iery of errours, 10 ;, there varier), ot proceediogs, Hit

be agolDlt Faith, that is, a deriruclion orany part of the foun-

dation it is with zeal to be refilted, and we have lor it an

ApoilolicaH warrant, contend ""y".sUlfor the f,t;,/,; but then

as there things recede farther hom {he foundation. our cer-

rainty is the leffe, and their necetliry not 10 much, and rhere ,

fore it were very fir, thar our confidence Ihouid be accQrd:ng

to our evidence, and our zeal according to our confidence,

, and our ccnndence Ihould then be the Rule ofour Communion; and the lighmene of an Article lhould be confide red wir]: the weight of a precept of charity. And therefore, [here arc Iom, errours to be reproved, rather by a private friend then a pubiike cenfure , and rue perlons of the men not avoided but admonifhed, and their Doctrine rejected, nor their Communion ; fcw. opinions are of thar malignity which are to be re)ected wirh [he fame exterminating tpirir , and confidence of averrauon, with which [he firlt Teachers of Chritiianiry con-

, F demn\.!

4Z The Liberty of Prophefying. f.2.

----- demn'dEbi;~, Mane." and Cerinthm; and in rhe condcmmrion ofHereticl,s the pertonall iniquity is more confidcracle r1~e:l1he obliq uity of t,ile de/trine, not lor the rejection of the Arri;:!c, but for ccntunng th_e perions , and therefore it is the piety of the t:J3? rhat exculcd S.Cypri;;" which is a certain Araumenc that It IS not the opinion. but the impiety that conllc~nl and

~\~~v, 1~;_')'.:': ~1.a!(~S th~ l-fere[lc~. And [his was it which Vi~,e"tlrlS' Lirj.'l6njir :,1" laid In this very care ot ::,,(lpri"",Vnitu & t}ufdem opitJ;olliJ {mi. rum VIde" pm;]) jlJdic:tmllS IIlIthores c.,:ho"co;,0~ [eqlMCes I;~re. t;'o" ~,wufomu, ~[4.~//frO!, (7 ~ondmmfllmu 'J_'holilJlicos. 9!!}, jCYII[e,unt /J6rOf,flmt h"red<f ~,()]/J" 'l.lIorN,,! Mrorum defenfo"s detrtJd,,~lItr ad ':f<11111m. Wnlc~ raying, If.we confront again!l the (aying of "alvliln ccndemninz the firH Authors of the Arr!,w Sea ~ ,and acquitting the F~llowers, we are taught by thefe two wue men that an errour is not it that fends a man to f,lell, but. he that begin; rhe nerefy, and is the authour of the ~e~, he IS the man mark'd out [0 ruine j and his Followers Icsp d, ~I.len the H.~e(il1rch commenc d the errour upon pride and ambition .and!u_s Followers went after him in limp;iciry of rheir heart; and Io it was molt commonly: bur on the can. t~ary • when. the lidl man in (be opinion was honeflly and in. vJn~,blr dece!~ed, as S.Cyprl.3n was, and that his Scholars to maimame rheir credit, or their ends , mainraind the opinion, not for the excellency of the reaton perfwadiog , but for the be. ~eli~ and accrumh ems, or peevifhneffe, .as did ~he DOIMfips l qui

~ y~rtalJt alit orstat« ;;6. carnallfer 6111ndlllntur , as S. Attjlin faid 01 rhem , the~ the Scholars are the Herericks , and the Maller 15 a Catholike, For his errour is not the hercfy for· ~all'y, and an errmg perlon may be a Catholike. A wicked per. ion In his errour becomes hererick , when the good man in [he fame er~our fhall have all the rewards of Faith. For whatc:ver an .W man believes, if he therefore believe it becauie it ierves bl~ own ends , be his belief true or falfe , the man bath ?D heretical! minoe , for co ierve his own ends, his minde JS prepared '? believe a lie. But a eood man that believer what a,:cordmg ro h!s light> and "upon the tile of his moral] mduJtry he thinks true whether he hits upon the nght or no, bee.ute he hath a i'ninde defirous of truth, and

prepared

(.2.

The Liberty of Propbefjing.

--. -- -~-

prepared ro believe every truth , is therefore a~-Z~~ble to Cod, bccsufe nothing hindred him from it , but what bee could not help , his miiery and his weaknefie , which being in.pertet1icns meerly naturall, which God never punifhes , be [londs raire tor a bleHi[lg of hi~ morality, which God alwayes accepts. So that now if Stephen had roilowed the example of God Almighty, or retained but the lame peaceable Ipirit which his Brother ot' Ca:hllge did ,he .mlght with Il_lore advantage to rruth, and reputanon both ot w iidcme and pIety have done his duty in atreiling what he believ'd to be true; for we are as much bound [0 be zealous purluers of r-ean: as earneti conrenders for the Faith. I am lure more earnetl we ought to be for the p-ace of the ( burch, then tor an Article which i, nor. of the Faith, as this Q.!.:dlion of re-baptization was nct; tor S, (yprj"" died in beliere aga,nlt it , and )"L was a Carholike,

and a Martyr for the Chriuian Faith. '

Tie Iumme is rhis 5.C;prian did right in a wrong caufe (as 1{!Jm6.2"

it hath been fincc ju,<g(d) and Sttph,n did ill in a good caure e -

as Iar.e then as piety and charity is to be preferr'd before ~

true opinion, to Iarre is S. (_ J/,rj4~'s practife a better precedent

for us, and an example ofprimiti\'e Ianctiry, then the zeale and indncretion of Sr<phen: s. eyp'''''' had not learn'd to forbid

to a!l}' one a liberty. of propherying or interpretation, it hee trar,I~ldled not rhe toundarion of Faith and the Creed of the

ApOlllts.

Well rhus it W2S, and thus it ought to be in the firll Ages, NmnG. 21· the Faith of Chririendcmc relied Hill llpon the fame roundati-

on, and the )ucg'1TllDts 0: herefies VI ere accordingly, or were

amine; rut the filH great violation cf this truth was, when

Ger.erall Councels came in and the SymbolS were enlarged, and

nevv Articies were made as much of r.~cd1i[y to be believed as

tr.e CIted of the A pollles, and damnation threamed to them

that did diflenr, and at laft the Creeds multiplyed in number ,

and in Articles, and ihe.Jibcrry of prophefying b"gan to be

{omething reHrained.

AId this was of fo much the more force and efficacy be- Numb, zs; ~,u{e it began llpon great reaton , and in the lirH inllance, with

luccelft good enough, for I am much pleated with me en.

f 2 . larging

I

44

--------.----::---=---:--~.-:-----..:._-

The Liberty of Prophefjing.

·lar-gi~-~-the Creed~ which theCo~nceiJcl=Ni~~·-;;;~ caule they enlarged it to my [wle; but I am not Cure that others are {atidied with it; While we look upon the Article they did determine, we fee all rhings well enough; but there are rome wife perfonages confider it in all circumtiances , and think the Church bad been more happy if {he had not been in rome (ente contirain'd to alter the (impliciry of her faith, and make it more curious and articulate, (0 much that he had need be a liJhtk man to underrland the very words of the new de· terminations.

For the nrH .Alexander Bifhop of Ale\'a"drill, in the prefence of his Clergy, entreats Iomewhar more curioufly of the Iecrer of the mytierious Trinity> and Unity, io curioufly, that tA>iul ( who was a SophiHer too Iubtle as it afierward appear' d' milimderliood him, and thought he intended to bring in the herefy of Sah,lIiu;. For while he taught the Uniry of the Trinity, either be did it [0 inarrificially , or 10 intricarely, that Ariuf thought he did not diHinguiCh the pertons , when the Bithop intended only the unity of nature. Againl1 this .Arius furioufly drives, and to confute Sah.li,uf, anJ in him (as be thought) the Bifhop .ditlinguifhes the natures too, and to to tecure the Article of the Trinity , detiroycs the Unity. It was the lirH time the Q!!.eilion was difpured in the world, and in fuch myHerious niceties, poll;bly every wife man may underfland fomething, but few can underiland all, and therefore [u1rea what they nnderfland not, and are furioufly zealous for that part of it which they doe perceive. Well, it hapned in there as alwayes in tuch cates , in things men underfiand not they are mofi impetuous; and becauie Jilipition is a rhinz icfinite in degrees, for it hath nothing to determine it, a J~fpi[ious perton is ever moil violent; for his feares are worre then [he thing [eared, becauie the thing is limited, bur his feares are not; (0 that upon this. grew ccnrenrions on both fides, and tumults, rayling and reviling each other; and then the Laity were drawn into partS, and the Metetianl abetted the wrong parr, and the right part fearing to be overborn , did any th:ng that was next at hand to fecure it felfe. Now then they that lived in that Age, that underfiood the men.that faw how quiet

. the.

§.~. The Liberty of ProphelyT,;i.---- 45

theChurch was before this Hirre, how miferably rent now, what

little benefit from the Qll.eflion, what I(;biline about it, gave

erher cenfiires of the bufinefle , then we Iince have doae , who

only look upon the Article determind with truth and appro·

bation of tbt Church generally, fince that time. But the Epi-

file of {onjlal1tinero Alexander- and Aria), tells rhe trurh.and C'l'·1· chides them both for commencing the Q£_eflion, Ale.~·a"dtr- lor broaching it, .A-illS for taking it up; and although this be

true, [hat it had been better for the Church it never had be-

guo, yet being begun, what is to be done in it? of this allo

in that admirable Epiflle, we have the Emperours judgement (Ifuppofe not without the advife and privity of H.ftlls Bifhop

of Cordub«, whom the Emperour lov'd and rrulled much, and imployed in the delivery of the Letters') e, For lirlt he calls it

a certain vain piece of a Q£dlion , ill bef,un and more unad- "

vi[edly publifhed , a Q!!.eHion which no Law or EccleliaHicall ec

Canon defineth, a fruitleffe contention, the product of idle"

brs-nes, a matter fa nice, 10 obicure , fo intricate that it was"

neither to be explicated by the Clergy,. no~ lInd~rHood by IC

the people, a dirpute of words, a doCtnne inexplicable , but"

molt dangerous when taught leaH it introduce ditcord or blaf- I'

phemy, and rherefore.rhe Objector was rafh.and rh~ aniwerer ,e umdvifed: for it concernd not the jubilance of Faith, or the 'C wonhip df God, nor any c~eiie commandment ~~ Scripture, ::

and therefore, why 1110uld It be the matter of difcord i' For .

rhouah the matter be "rave; yet becaufe neither neceflary, "

nor ~xplicable, the cogrention is trifling and toyifh. A?9:; therefore as the Philo(ophers of the lame Sea, though dit-

feting in' explication of an opinion, yet more love lor rhe lJ~i- ::

ty of their ProfefIion, then ditagree for the difference of OpI-

nion j So Ihould Chriliians believing in (he fame God, 'c reraining the fame Faith, havlng the (arne ~opes,. ?ppo[ed by::

the fame enemies.not fall at variance upon fuch difputcs, con-

fiderine our underliandinus ate not all al.ke j and therefore, "

neithe~ can our opinions i~ Inch myHerious Articles: 10 that"

~fle matter being of no great importance, but vaine, and. a to.y ::

10 rerped of the excellent blefIings ot peace and charity, It ..

W ere good that Alexlllld,r- and drius Ihould.leave contending,

keep "~

! :'

- -----------~----The LibeHY (;0 Pr0'Pher.yino. (1.1,

46 'J ;)) 6

~~-----;;-keep-i-hei~~pinions to th:mJelves,~sk. e~cb other forgiVt_ncfTe, " and give mutuall rolerarion, ThIs IS the jubIlance ot Con. j/amine's letter , and it contains in it much reafon, if he did not undervalue the <l!!._e£lion; but it feems it was nor then tiJonght a Q£_cition of Fairb, but of nicety of difpute , they both did believe one God, and ihe holy Trinity. Now then that be af· rcrward called the N""" Councell, it was upon occafion ofrhe vilenefle of the men of the AYi"n part, their erernall dilcord and pertinacious wrangling, and to bring peace Into rhe Church; that was the necef1lry; and in order to it was the dererminarion of the Article, But lor the Article it leW:, rhe Letter declares what opinion be had of that, and this Letter was by Socr.uer called a lVondcr(Hllc,-.:hortrltion,fi1lt of grac< and [over csuncds ; and fuch as Hajills himtelf, who was the mer. lenger, preffed with all eametineffe , with all ,the skill and I.u. thoriry he had.

lI.'i:mv. 27, 1 know the opinion the world had of the Article afterward

is quite di!Fering from this cemiire given of it before; and therefore they have put it into the Creed (lfuppole) to bring the world to unity, and to prevent Sedition in this ~Hion, and the accidenrall b'afphemies, which were occafioned by their curious ralkings of Iuch fecret myHcries, and by their illiterate relolutions, But although [he Article was determin'd with an excellent Ipirit , and we all with much rear on profelfe to believe it; yet it is another confideration, whether or no it might noc have been better detcrmurd, if wid] more (imp.iciry ; and another yet, whether or no lince many of the Bif1lOps who did believe this thing, yet did not like the nicety and curio/icy of expretfing it, it had not been more agreeable to the pratlile of the Apotiles to have made a determination of the Article by way of Expofirion of the Apotlles Creed, and to have JelL this in a retcripr, for record to all poHerilY J and not to have enlar.sed the Creed with it; for tince it was an Explication of an Article of the Creed of the Apofl.es, as Sermons are of places or' Scripture, ir was thought by Ierne, rhac Scripture migbr with good profit, and great truth be expounded, and yet rhe expolirions not put into the Canon,or goe for Scripture, bu: that left Hill ill the naked OriginlllI fimpliciry , and [0 much the

rather

f.-;'-=-·--T,-:h~e-L--:-:ib-er-ty-o--:if':-p-::-r-o-ph-e{y::-t:--·ng~.-=--=--=--=--=-~-=-~~-=-~-=--=-4-=-7

rather fince that Explication was further from the fOUIJ(htiu). ~llj chougl: mort certainly true, yet nor penn d by 10 inta!ii. b:e a Cpirit, as was that of [he Apolllesj and therefore not wail 10 much evidence, as certainty. An~f they had pleated, they :nioht have made ufe of an admi~ precedent to this and ;na~y other great and good ';,utpoles ~no Iefle t~e~ of the bl~£~ Jed Apotlles, whofe Syt1;t~,tbey mighr have imirared , WIth as much fimplicity as they did the Exprefiions of Scripture, when they fit'lt compofed it. For it is molt contiderable, that althouoh in reafon, every claufe in the Creed i110Llld be clear, and 10 inopportune and unapt to variety of inrerprerarion, thar there micht be no place left tor Ieverall renfes or variety of Expofirion;; yet wben they tb~l1gbt fit to infeft fom~ u:yfleries ~ntO the Creed, wh.ch in Scripture were exprefled m 10 mytiericuc words thar the lafl and moll: explicire Ienfe would {!ill be latenr,' yet they who (if ever any did) underliood all the fenb and Iecrets of ir, thought it no: fit to =. any 1Y0rds ~ut the words of Scripture, particula~ly III the Articles of [Chritis de .. icending into Hell, and finmg at the ngl?t hand of God) tel !bell' us that thofe Creeds are belt which keep the vcry words ot' Scripture; and that Faith is befl which hath great,clt fmplicity, and that it !s better in ~Il cates humbly to lubm:,t, then curioufly to enqulre,3t?d pry I.ntO th: myfiery under me cloud and to hazard our Faith by improving our knowledge', If th~ Nicme Fathers had done 10 tOO, po!l~bly the Church would never have repented ir,

And indeed the experience, the Church bad afrerwards; Nf1IIIP," S, t11ewed that the Bifhops and P riells were not lilt~sfied in all circumtiances, nor the {chilin appealed, nor the perions agreed.

nor the Canons accepted, nor the Arricle ul1der~tood, nor ~ny

thing right, but when they were overborn with ,Aurh_oI1:y,

which Authority when [he leaks turned, did the fame 1eIVIce

and promotion to [be contrary. . .

But it is conliderable , that it was not the Arricle or the NumP. 29, ' thing it tel.e [hat troubled the di!agreeit?g pertons , but til'::,

manner of repreferning it. For ihe five Drtlenters, Enj<!J1IeJ' ot

Nia.,mdi", Theog'JlJ. Moris, .t h.OMS, and Sccundu<. bcieved

ChLift to.be very God of very God, but the claufe of '.,a'd'.J.

th~,!

48 the Liberty of Prophefying. '- .. '- .. --§~;:

,----~--:-

th~y derid::d as being perfl'!aded by rbeir Logick , that he Was neither ot the Iubfiarce ot the ,Father, by divifion as a piece of a lump, nor derivanon as children frem their Parents not by production as buds fi:~m trees, and no body could tell them 21?Y other way at ~h~ [ t1ple, and that made the fire to burn Ilill, And [hat was It 1 .rald; if the Article hod been with mo:e 1i':l~ltCl[y , and 1e11~ nlcery determin'd , charity would have gam d more, and faith would have loft nothing. And we (hall finde the wil~H of them all, for (0 Eufe6i1u P""'philul IVa;

VUe 5010. efieem'd, publifhed a Creed or Confeflion in the Synod and

n.cn. hb". ~hough he and all the :efl believed thar great myHery of Lod-

,'.18. ' linctle, God m.lJi[,jled In the flejh, yet he was not fully iarisfied, ,:or, fo [o~ne of rheclauie 01 one fo6ft,,:-ce, till he had done a Im.e. vlo.~nce to hIS own underflanding j for even when he had lub[~nbed co the ciaule of one fo6fl"nce, he does it with a proteJllatlon, that heretofore he never had veen ilcqtllli"ted, r,or fiCClljt ow(d ~lmfe!f8 to f~ch [peecheJ, And the {enfe of the word was Clth_er 10 ambiguous , or their meaning to uncertain

~~I~~:~: lib, I. rhar AndreOls r riaas does With Iome probability di.pure that the '}{jcene Father; by 0l-"'~'@-' did rneane 'Perris ji,."llIudi. netn, non 'f!t:>lti,~ tlnilate"!, ,1)!-va'4-c.J. And it was to well undeflood by pertonages difinterefied , that when Arllll and Eu; >:._oiflf had confefled Chritt co be 'De~1 ver/;lIfYJ, without inferung the c1aul.e ot ,one jIlGj1ance, the Emperour by bis letter aPP!ov'd of IlIS Faith ,and refior'd him to his Countrey and

• N'JJI impru- Olhce , and the Ccmmunion 0:: the Church. And alons ,kill" dix.r, time after a'tbo, ugh the Article was bcl.eved with • nicdY"

qui curiof.e c x- h 1 I dd d

plicarioru hu enoug. yet IV le!1 t ley a c more word, 11 ill to the myIie-

jus myHcrii ry, andbrougbt In the. word ,-""t"!'-~'(' laying there were three dictum Alina- hypoliafes In the holy r rtn'ty; It was 10 Iun" before it could nis I'lilofaplli be underHo~d, tha~ ~t was ~eli~v"d th,reror~, becauie they

j"FPI:cu,[, H,I, wou.d not cppofe tneir Superiours, or diliurb ihe peace ol'Lhe

eborus mgel t.h r I ' hi I 'h I L h

11 "alJiIIs iu " U C I, In t In8S IV 1lC tley t:'OUg rr could not be underlicod.

Ill~[lll' ptllga: In lo much that S. Hterom wru to 'lJam.tjUf, in there words:

IrI:hn.t,QlllIll Vicel'''t ji p/aw, obfecro, non tlme60 tre s hJpofta[ts d,eere,Ji al~tum t~mur Juvetu; and agamE, Ob/e!lor /;eatitlldinem ttl,.", Fer emeth,t'Hm, & ccuuuuuu- mUlldi ralllle" p " 71' h -, . r . ' tuj'l"tfocat. t dJ" ji" 'ir OP-d"glOV hrlnlllllm?, Nt mi ,i I:.p'flobr tms,}l1Je

, ece» arum IT)e aice» «rio» 'lpoft •• feon dC/Nr f1H1hwiIM.

But

The Liberty of prophefying.

-----:-:,-:---

But without all Qy_efliol1, the Fathers determin'd the Q!!..e- Numb. 3c~ ilion with much truth, though I cannnot fay, the Arguments

upon which they built their Decrees, were fa good as the con-

dUllon it felfe was certain! But that which in this cafe ir

:onGderable, is whether or 110 they did well in putting a curfe

ro the foot of their Decree, and the Decree it felfe into the

Svmbol, as if it had been of the lame neceffity? For the curfe,

e;iftbilu Pampbillls could hardly finde in his heart to fllb:c,ibe,

at la{l be did; bur with this claule that he fubfcribed it be-

eallfe the forme of curfe did only forbid men to fI"'jllilint them-

[<lvu lVith forra_i,gn JP~ecbu and !Imvritten langudget,' whereb,Y

contitlion and ditcord IS brought Into the Church. So that ic

was not 10 much a magiHeriall high aflertion of the Article,

al an endeavour to fecure the peace of the Church. And [0 the

fame purpoie for onght I know , the Fathers compofed a Form

of Confeffion, not as a prefcript Rule of Faith to build the

hopes of our i~lvation on, bur as a urfera of that C,ommunion

which by publike Authority was therefore eftabhihed upon

chore Articles becaule the Articles were true, though not of

prime neceff ty, and becauie that aniry of confeflion was

judg'd, as things then Hood, the befl preierver of me umry of

minds,

But I [hall obferve this, that although the iVieme Fatbers1{mn[;, 3!'" in that care at that time, and in that conjuncture of circum.

fiances did well (and yet their approbation is made by after

Aoes e» p.ft [aa.) yet if this precedent had been followed by

ali" Councels (and certainly tbey had equall power, if they had

thought it equally reafonable) and that they had put all their

Decrees into the Creed, as rome have done (ince, to what _a

volume had the Creed by this rime Iwclld P and all the hallie

had run into foundarion, nothing left for fi.per- !iru8:lHCs. But

thar tbey did not, ir appear~s lthar,fillee they thought all R.

their Decrees true, yet they did not think then: all neceflary,

at leaH not in that degree, and [hat they publiihed !l~ch D~·

crees, they did it dfcl<frando, not imp,rando, as Doctors ~I? their Chaires not mailers of other mens faith and coniClenCes.

• And yet there is {orne more modetly, or warinelle.or necef- :r:.

lity (what {hall I call it?) then this comes tOO : for why are

G . tlO~

49

Q. r,

Tbe Libert) of ProphefJing. Q.z.

llot-~\i~~~;;~~~;fi~--dtrer;~~d· ?---b;; ~~'en IV h~I~Gen~~11

Alfemblies of Prelates have been, fome conrroverfies that have been very vexatious, have been pretermitted, ani others of leue confcquence have been dctermind i Why did never allY Generall Councell condemn in expretle Icnrence the. PelJgialJ hercfy , that grear peti , that fubrle infection of Crillendomel and rer divers Generall Counceils did aflemble while the hereli' was 111 the world, Born rheie cates in. Ieverall decrees 'eave men ~n their liberty of believing and propnefying. "The latter prcclairnes that all controverfies cannotbe derermind [Q fur. ficient purpotes , and rhe firH declares that thote that are are not all of [hem matters of Faith, and thernfelves are not 10 fe. cure, but they may bee deceived; and therefore pollibly it were better it were let alone; for if che latter leaves them divided in their opinions, yet their Communions and there, fore probably their charitiesare not divided; but tbeformerdi~ vides their. Comfl.1unions , and hinder:s t~eir inrerelt ; and yet for oughr IS certain, the accufed penon IS the better Catha. like. ~nd yet after all (his, it is ~oc {afet>': enough to fay, let the C~Jl111cel1 or Pr~lates det7rml11c Articles warily, lei. dome, with great caution, and wah much fweetne(fe and mo. defly. For thougb this be better then to doe it rafhly fre. t:_luently and furioul1y ; yet if. we. once, cranfgre!fe the b~unds jet us by the Apoliles In _ their Creed, and not onely preach other truths, but determine them pro tribunali as well as pro ~atbedra, although there be no. errour in the fubject mana (as ID NlCe_ there was none) yec I! the next Ages fay they will determine another Article WIth. as much care and caution, and pretend as great a neceflity , there is no hindrms them bu.t by giving rea(0l!s againtl it ; _ and fa like enough they mIgh_c have dOi1~ agamfl the decreeing the .Article at Nice; yet that 16 not fufl1clenr; for lince t~e Authority of the NICINI Co~ncell .hath; .grown to the heJgt~ of a mounrainous pre. judice agamfi him chat Ihould fay It was ill done the lame {caron and the fame neceffiiy may be pretended by any Aae and in any Councell, and, they thmk themfelves warranted by [~e great preced~nt at Nice, to proceed as peremptorily as they ~i.d; but rhenif _any O~bCI Alfewbly of learned men may

poffibly

poflibly be deceiv'd , were it not better they fhould fpare the labour, then that they Ihould with Io great pomp and (olennities fq:?~e mens perlwations , ar ,1 determine an Article wh!ch after Ages mutt refcind 1 for iherelore ~oll certainly in rheir own Age, the pOlnt with fafety of faith and falvacion might have been ditpured and disbelieved : And chat many mens £tiths have been ryed up by Ads and Decrees ot Coun, celsfor rhoie Articles in which the next Age did lee a liber., ry had better beene preterved , becaure an errour was derermined , wee {hall afterward receive a more certaine account.

And ther~fore the C~uncel1 of '1{jce did well,. and Co«: 'l:{pHb. 3 Z,' ~antJn .• ple did well, 10 did Eph,fos and Cha/cedan; bnr it is

becaule the Anicles were truly derermirrd (for that is part

ot my belie(e;) but who is lure it Ihould be fo before hand.

and whetber the points there derermin'd were neceffary or no

to be believ'd or to be derermin'd, if peace had been concern'd

in it through the faction anddivilion otrhe parries, I luppo(e

the judgement at Conft~ntil1e the Emperour and the famous Ha-

jiUI of (,ord,.b" is ~ufficieflt to ~n~rL~ct us, \yh()fe authority I ra-

ther urge then rea.ons , became It IS a prejudice and not a rea-

ion I am to contend againtl,

.So that iu~fJ determinations ~nd publilhil1g of. Confeffions Numb'33' !'11th Authority of Prince and Bifhop , are Iomerimes of very

good u fe for the peace of the Church, and they are good alto

to determine the judgement ofinditferent penons, whofe rea-

fon~?f either fide, are' ~ot too great co weigh down the pro-

babilityof that Authonty: Buc for perfons of confident and

imperious underfiandings, they on whore fide the determination

is, are armed with a prejudice againfi the other, and with a

weapon to affront them, but with no more co convince rhem:

and they againll: whom the decifion is, doe the more readily

betake themlelves ,to the defenfive, and are ensaged upon con-

!e!latlo~ !lnd publike enrmres, for filch Articles which either

'?lIght lately have been unkuown , or with much charitydi-

jputed. Therefore the N,ctn. Councell , although it have the

advantage of an acquir'd and prefcribing Authority, yet it muIr

not become a precedent t~ others, leafi the inconveniences 'of

G :3 - multiplyilJg

The Liberty ~f Propbefying.

---_

",m\[iplyiilg more Ankles upon as great P' ctence of reJfO!l as inen , make the act of the Nictl,e Fatber, ill i!raiglltl1ing Pro. phefying , and enl"rging the Creed, become accidentally an illccnvenience. The firlt retlrainr , although if it bad been com. plaind of, might pofJIbly have been better confider'd ofj yet [he inconvenience is not virible, till it comes by way of F~~cedent to ufher in more. It is like an Arbitrary power, which :lhhough by the lame reafon it rake fix pence from the {ubjetl it may take a hundred pound, and then a thoufand , and the~ all, yet 10 long as it is within the firH bounds. the inconve. nience is not fo great; but .when it comes to be a precedent or argument for more , then the lirll: may jufily be complaind of, as having in it that reafon in the principle, which brought the inconvenience in the fequell; and we have feen very ill confequents from innocent beginnings.

'.N,!lm{;, 34· And [be inconveniences which might polIibly ari.e from

this precedenc , thofe wife Pertonages alto did fore. fee, and therefore althongh they took liberty in Nic~, La adde fome Articles, or at leafl more explicitely [0 declare the firl! Creed, yet they then would have all the world to rell: upon that and goe no farther, as believing that to be fufficienr. S. Athan~fu:

JEpiil ad Epicr. declares their opinion, "~ e~ ~'v7~ '<J''2:;.' ~"}J ""i/ip"" V' Til :}&~a., ,~tl'PJ~:J O(.tOAo,}nfuioa. d~u, d.vntPHJI~ 6:.-t @)'g.. dpat5o",,~ iZ' ~dc/I~ daw.!2~-/~i' (]t)~~(nv J ~ 'J.,a;.ee.~a~ l" XFIS~ wt)lI'4Y• Thar Faith which rhofe Fathers there confeffed, was fufficiellt lor [he refutation of all impiety, and the eHabljQlm~nt of all Faith

~ in Chril] and true Religion. And therefore there was a fa. "'1I~~r.I·3·c.14· mous Epilllewrirren by Zmo rbe Emperour, called [he 'Elt/d, or rhe EpiHle of recorxiliation , ill which all dilagreeing interetls , are entreated [0 agree in the Nicene Symbol, and a promlie made upon thar condicion to communicate with all other Sects , adding withall, that the Church Ihould never reo ceive any other Symbol then that which was compofd by the N'cenc Patherz, And however Hosaries was condemnd lor 1 tJlIonothettfe; yet in one of the EpiHIes which the lixth Synod alledged againfl- hill'. (vi~. the fecond) he gave them couniell "hat would have done the Church as much iervice as the de,~rmillarion of the Article did; for he adviied them not [0 be

curious

---------- --~- ----------_

The Li6erty of Propbef1ing.

53

curious in their dilpmil1gs, nor dogmJti:a!l in their dererminations sbout (hat QlleHion ; and becaute the Church was nat u'ed to dirpure in that ~ltion, it were better ~o prcrerve the fimplicity of Faith, then to enfhare mens confcicnccs by ,3 new Article. And when the Emperour Conjtil.tiuJ was by Jus Faction engaged. in a contrary practile, the inconvenience and unreafonablenefle was [0 great, that a prudent Heathen obferved and noted it in this character of Confiol."tira, Cbrifli«: mun 1"eligionem ahfolf4WI) & ji"'plicel1J LN.B.) anili foP(rfiitio~e conjtJdit. In qua [cYfiMnd/i perple.viHs q"am in componwda gr4- lii!f, 1:I:cifll'lllt diJlidul 'fH£ progrt}Ja fu/,u: aluit conctrtalion~ verb.rum dum rmf1H olnmll'J ad [mlln trslur« oonattsr ar. bitrium.

And yet men are more lead by Example then either by N. b "" Reston or by Precept; for in the Councell of COllfiantiuople one . 11m • ;JJ~ Article de nWD & integra was added. \:iz. I 6elieve one Baptifo~

.f,r tb~ remiJlion of fmlN; and then agame they were fo .co~li·

dent, that that Confeffion of Faith was Co abfolutely mnre ,

and that no man ever after Ihould neece to adde any thing ro

the integtity of Faith, that the Fathers of the Councell cf

ephe[Hf pronounced Anathema [Q all rhofe that [hould adde

any thing to the Creed of (onjl~nt""pb. And yet for aI:

this, the Church of Rome in a Synod at qentil/y added the clauic

of Filioque, to the Article of the proceffion of the holy Ghoft,

and what they have done rince, all the world knowes, E.wmp/,'

OOn '"'1ifiunt,pd 'fflllmvis in tenuem reec/ta Iramitem,t4IiJlim~

Ivaga"di fihi !ofciunt pote/lawn.· All men were penwaded rhat

it was moll: reafonable [he limits of Faith Ihould be no more

enlarged; but yet they enlarged it themfelves, and bound others

from doing it, like an intemperate Father, who becaute he

knowes he does ill himfelfe, enjoyns temperance to his Son, bus

continues to be intemperate hi..m[e1fe.

But now if! Ihould be quetlioned concerning the Symbol of NHI}J~. ~6, Athanafiltt (for we fee the Nicene Symbol was the Pather of

many more, [orne twelve or thirteen Symbols in the fpace of

a hundred years) I confeffe I cannot fee that moderate le'_1tence

and gentlenelTe of charity in his Preface and Conc!uhon as

[here was in the Nicem Creed. Nothing there but damnarion

G 3 anc

54

and perifhing everlaflingly, unlefle the An icle of the ~ri~ity be believed as it is there with cunoruy and minute parllCUlanUtS e~plaind'. Indeed eAtban4ifls bad been (oundly vexe~ o~ one fide, Gild much cryed up on the other; and therefore it ,IS n~t 10 milch wonder tor him to be (0 dec.reto.ry a!ld jever~ In hIS

cniurc. for norhinz could more afcerrain hIS friends (Q him, and dil: rep~te his enen~es, then the, beliete of.that damnatory ;,,\p_ pendix , but that docs not jutiifie the thmg.For the Articles [hemielves, I am molt heartily perfwaded of .the truth ofrhem, and yet I dare not (ay all that are no,: (0. are Irrevocably damnd, became citra hoc Symbolism, (he Fal~h of tl;e ApoiHes Creed is intire , and he that believeth and, IS baptIZed 0all b~_ {ave?, that is, he that believeth fuch a beliefe as IS fufl1cIe~t dlfp_o~([. (,11 to be baptized, that Faith with the Sacrament IS fufuclent for heaven. Now the Apotlles Creed ~oes one; why therefore

~ Vd, HOCU'll doe not both intitle us to the prcmife ? Befides , If It were de author. S conridered concerning Yith4naJius Creed, how m~ny .people unSCl'il:,I.lo}'.53. derfiand itnor , how contrary to na~urall.real:m It 1eems,.ho~v

~ C;,rdull. little the > Scripture tayes of thote curlOlines. of Explicari-

Huuil.cum. on, and how Tradition was not cleare on hIS (ide for the

'J om I. CO!.. r: h fi 6 d e

rrov.r. Je ver- Article it felfe , much lefle lor toe ormes an mmut s

bo Dei,c'p.!9. (. how himtelfe is put EO make an anfwer, and excufe for [he

t Fathers {peal,ang In favour of the oAr• Vide Grerfcr, & Tanner.in coloq.Ra- yi.t11! at leaf+ 10 teemingly, that the Ar:i,bcn. Eufcbiulll ("Jilo Arl'bllUln ri"",' appeald to them for tryall , a~d rhe aie Perron. lib, 3· cap. centre J,: Roy offer was declind ) and after all [hIS that Iaqucs, Idem 'itOrigir.,clllllcg,[Jc D,: the 'Nicen« Creed it [elte went not to

vlnitarem 6111 & Sptr,:i.I,.,c,7,cle Euchar, .~

contra. Dup lcflif idem cap.l.obfclV.~: lime neither in Article, nor Anathema oj" Irenaiurn ralia dixitlc 'lUX'llll hodlc nor Explication, it had not been arnifle diccrcr plO Arriano lep .rarcrur, "de ifthe finall judgement had been left to euam '{"Iher. m rcfp n d 91, Q!r.u",lt, Jefus Chrirl- for he is appointed Judge of

I ' ' l'cg & El 'ph,", 111 ",:t, .6). , d L

'CO)!, • all the World, and he {hall Ju ge rne peo-

le righreoufly , for be knowes every truth, the degree of eve-

~y neccflity, and all excufes that doe letfen , C?r take away the nature or malice of a crime; all which I think 0thanajiHI though a very good man, did not know {o well as to warrant fuch a fenrence. And puc cafe the herefy there condemnd ~e damnable, (as it is damnable enough) yet a man may m.mta~~

§.:. The Lite't] of Propbefjing. 55

an opinion rhar is in ir ;e;'~ damnablej and yet l.e not Knowing

it 10, and being invincibly lead into ir may goe to heaven;

1,;$ opinion !hall burn, and himfelre be faved. But however,

I lin de no opinions in Scripture cald damnable, but what arc

imnious in matma praWca , or directly detiruciive of the Faith

orthe body of Chrillianity, fuch of which S. Peter {peaks

[brinzi"t in d~ml1(1bte here fie!, even dnlyin,g the LOYd that bOflght : Pc""" ,h,m, thefe aYe the fill!e Prophett who out of covetoufi,,!fe tnak! merchandtfo of y~u through coz:,ening word«, J Such as tbelt:

are truly herefies, and filch as thefe are cerrainly damnable.

Bur becaufe there are no degrees either of truth or {ailhcod,

every true propo/ition being alike true; thar an errour is more

or tcife damnable I is not told us in Scripture, but is determind

by the man and his manners, by circumfiance and accidents; and

therefore the cenfirre in the Preface and end, are Arguments of

his zeal and firength of his penwarion , but they are exrrinfe-

call and accidental! to the Articles, and might as well have been

Ipared. And indeed to me it items veli' hard to pur uncharira-

blene{f'e into the Creed. and fo to make it become as an Ar-

ticle of Faith, [hough perhaps this ,'ery thing was no Faith c'-

Ath~n"JiUf who if we may believe ~qttil1f/1, made this mani-.

fellation of Faitth, n~l1 per tnodum Symboli,fed per modum do- D, rho.,,". Eirin>£, thar is, if I underfiood him right, not with 3 purpofe 'l,r.1O[jc.I. J,( , to impofe it upon others, but with confidence to declare his own ;lIm.

beliefe ; and [hat it was preicrib'd to others as a Creed, was

the aet of the Bilhops of Rom.; [0 he raid, nay, po!Iibly it was

none of his : Sofaid Ihe Patriarch of C.P. UWefetiu! about one

hundred and thirty years ,,(inee ,in his EpiHle to John DOli:::'".

IlAth""a{io j.slfo adftriplum Sl'Nbo/umcNIN PMtpcflm R~,". ap~

pendice ilia IldHlteratHm, Iflce lucidiNf contejl"mur, And it is

more then probable tbat he {aid true , becaufe this Creed was

written originally in Larine. which in all reafon Ath4Ntt/iu! did

not, and it was rranflated into Greek, it being apparent rhar

the Larine Copy is but one, but the Greek is various, there

being three Editions or Tranl1ations rather, exprefled by Gene.

6rard,M.~,de Trinit; But in this particular, who lilt, may

better tarisfie himfelfe in a ditpuration de Symb.lo Athanafii,

prin'ed at Wm;c,6fjrg 15~o fuppoJedro be written by, S(rr"riNt

er Clmlhmll. And

56

The Liherty of Pyophefying.

'Njm;b,37' ,And, yet I muft obferve that this Symbol of. At!umajiH;' ;nd

tim otncr of'l"f.Jce, offer ~ot .at an% new Arricles , they only pr~~e,nd. [0 a lu;ther Expllc~tlOn ot the Articles Apoflolicall, W!11~i1 IS a certain confirmation that they did not believe more Arrides [Q be ~f b.ehe.f neceflary to falvation : ifrhey intended the!.e furd:er F.xp!tca~lOm to be as neceflary as the dogmatbl1 Articles of the Apotiles Creed, I know not holY [0 an liver ail that may be objected againH that; bur the advanrase that I fhall gather from their 1I0t proceeding to new matt~s is laid

dv f . h d <> ,

out rca y ior me 111 r e wor s of Athanafus, raying of this

Creed [tl;i: is the Cdlholll« FllilhJ and if his authority bee good. or his laying true, cr he the Authour , then 110 man can j~y. of any other Article, rhat it is a part of the Catholike Faith, or thai the Catholike Faith can be enlarced beyond the

Dull, Piic,\l~l' con!e~ltS ,of that Sym?ol; and therefore it is ~ Hrange bold. ~,:i'l'I\1 f.r"Il netie III tnc Church oillome firH to adde twelve new Articles Jil·.:"'""'~, ['ro· and then to adde the Appendix of Athanajill! to the end at' !'IJ~m;. ",.Iei, them, 7 !Jis is ib« cathot'~ Faith, lvithouf which "0 man can be r~-~~'i ~l~I:~~O'l'~ [aucd,

Nllln!', 3 S. . But f? gre~t an example of _Co excellent a man, bath been either miuaken or followed with too much greedicefie , all L,he world in factions, all damning one another, each parry damnd by all the rcll , and there is no dilagreeing in opinion from any man rhar is in love with his own opinion, bLH damnati- 011 prel~mly to all that dilagree. A Ceremony and a Rite bath canted leverall Churches to Excommunicate each other, as in the matter, .o~ the ,Saturday Fari , and keeping Eatler, But what the Ipirns of men are when they are exatperared in a Q;_d1icn and difference of Religion, as they call it thouef the th1tJ8 it lellc may be moll: inconliderable, is very evidenr in that requeti of I'ope Innoccn: the Third, defiring of ihe Greeks (but re.ucnabty a man would think) that they wculd not [0 much hare the Roman manner of confecrating in unleavened bread, as [Q wafh, and .crape, and pare! he Altars after a Roman P riel! had contccrared. Nothing more furious than J miliaken zeal, and the aclions of a rcrupulous and abuled con.cience, When men rbink every thing to be their Faith and their Religion, com' mcnly they are 10 bulie ill trifles and Iuch impertinellcies ill

. which

~.2.

~.2. The Li/;erty of Propbefjing.

-------_

·which the fcene of their miflake lies, that th~y nesletl:the

greater things of ~h~ Law, chari~y. and cOl1?P!ianc:es, and the

gentleneffe of Chnlhan Communion, for thIS IS the great prin-

ciple of mifchiefe, and yet is not more pernicious then unrea-

fonable,

Fo~ I demand: Can ~ny man fay and jullifie that the Apo-· N' ,

III d d d C h beli d . III11IT. 390

es 1 eny ommunton to any man [at elieve the Ape-

Illes Creed. : and liv.'d.~ good life? And dare any man raxe

that p!oceedIllg of remiflenefle , and inditferency in Religion?

And nnce our bldfed Saviour promifed talvarion to him thar

be/ilverh (and the .Apoflles when they gave this word the

greatef extent. enlarged it not beyond the borders of the

Creed) bow can any man ~arrant the condemning ofany man

to the flames of Hell that 15 ready to die in auetlarion of this

~aith, 10 e~pounded and mad: explicite. by the ApoHIes, and

lives ac~<?rdlngly ~ . And to this purpofe: It was excellently faid

by a WIle and a pIOUS Prelate, S.Hilary, Non per d;fficiler 1m L.lo.deT,i~, DiIIl lid belltllm viram tjN£jlioml voc~t, (j:c. In "lIfo/uIO nobil & ad Enem, f-cill eft £urllittll; ].fum [u[citatum a mortllh,per Deso» credere,

d' ipfi'ln eJTe Dominu", confiteTi, &c. There are the: Articles

which Vie mutt believe, which are the fuflicient and adequate

object of that Faith which is required of us in order [0 Sal-

vation. And therefore it was, char when the Bitbopsof Iflri« Concil, rom.a, deferred the Communion of Pope PC/Ilgius,in caulk tr;UIn CII- Edit. PJlir. t, pitH/arum,he gives them a~accoun~ of his Faith by recitation of 47"

the Creed, and by anefling the four Generall Councels , and

is confident upon this that de fidei firmitate nul/" pot'Tit eJTe

9u~j/i ": vel fu!flcio generari; let the Apoflles Creed, efpecialll roexplicaied.be butfecured, and al~ Faith is fecured, and yet tim

explication [00, was leffe neceflary [hen [he Anicles them-

felves; for the explication was but accidentall, but the Art·ides

even before the Explication were accounted a fufliciem inlet

to the Kingdome of heaven.

And that there was fecurity enough, in the fimple believing N.,.mnb. 4"'; the IirH Articles. iavery certain amongf!: them, and by their

Principles who allow ~ot an implicite faith to ferve mof!: perfons

to the greatefi purpofes; for if the Creed did contain in it the

whole Faith. and that other Articles were in it impiicitCly,

. . Ii . . (fo:

'J1

1 ,I

i!

The Li~"ty of propbefjillg.

S9

'1\.J:!.'].I~~1 10. <S~ra

The Li~erty of Propb,fying.

(for fuch is the doC1:rine of the Scheele, and particularly of ~q~i?at) the~ he that expli~itely believes all the Creed, does !mphwely believe all. the Articles conrain'd in it, and ,then it IS b~tte~ the Imphc~tlon Ihould Iiill coetinue, then that by any explication (whIch IS limply unnecefTary) the Church DlOUld be troubled with quefiions, and uncerrain determinations and fachons enkindled, and animolities fet on foot, andmens foules endangerd who before were feeur'd by the explicite beliefe of all that the Apoflles requir'd as neceflary , which beliefe aho did fecurcthcm ~or all th.e rell,becaufe i~ implied the belief of wharfoever was virtually In the Brll Articles, jf fuch beliefe lhould by chance be neceflary,

The Iumme of this difcour{e is this, if we take an eflimate ~f the natu.re of Faith fro,? the di&a.tes and promifes EvangeIicall .. and trol!' the practice ApoitohcalI, the nature of Faith and ItS !ntegnty comifis in fuch propolirions which make the foundacion of hope and charity, that which is fufficient to make us to dee honour (0 Chrili, and to obey him and to encourage us in both; a.nd this is compleated in the' ApoHIes Creed. !,nd lince. contranes are of the tame extent, herefy is to be )udg'd b~ m. prop?rtion and analogy to faith, and that is l1erely only which IS ag~Infi Faiths Now becanfe Faith is not only a pre~ept of Doctrines, but of manners and holy life, wharfoever rs either oppofire [Q an Article of -Creed or reaches ill life, ahat's bereJy; but all thofe propofitions which are exrrinfecall to thefe twC? confiderarions, be they true or be they falfe, make mot herety, nor th~ man an Heretick; and therefore however ~e _may be .an emng penon, yet he is to be ufed accordingly, pitried ~n~ mHrutted, not condemned or Excommunicated; ~nd this IS the .refult of tile nrH ground. the confideration of ene nature of huh and perefy.

SECT;

SE e T. II I.

Of the 1ifJiculty ~nd uncertainty of .Argument! from scripture, tn ~efltons n.ot fimply neceJfory, not Ilteral,,determined.

GOd who difpofes of alI things Iiveetly and according to the Numb n' nature and capacity of tbings and perfons, had made thofe • ! only neceffary , which be had taken care lhonld be fufficiently

proRounded to all perfons of whom he required the explicire

beliefe, And therefore all the Articles of Faith are cleerely and

plainly fet down in Scripture, and the @o{pel is not hid "iji

pm~ntlbllS faith S,Ptllli; ",d(J)1< ')dp dp~7'iif 'lI"pdXMI~I" '!! ._,..i", Onhod,lidci, 'd",dlm, "l"""~' c.. du7d.1~ 'Vfb,I'£V, faith 'D11r1J,1!cIll, and that lib,4,C.18.

fo maniti:fily that no man can be ignorant of th.e _foundation • Super Pfcl. ofFai[h without his own apparent fault. And this IS acknow- 8~.& de util, ledoed by all wife and good men, and is evident, betides the cred,c .6. realonabJeneffe of the thing, in the teflimonies of Saints' Au/in. b Super Ifa, h Hierom~, c Chryfo/lome, dFIIlgentiul,c Hug~ de San~o Vi,!or~. ~;.9 8< mP[.l. f 1heodoret, g LIIClantiHf, h Th~ophilll1 Antloch<nHI, l~qUtnal, c Hounl, 3. iI'l

and the latter Schoole-men. And God hath done more; Thdr.Ep .z ,

for many things which are only profitable, are alfo {et down d S<r?,.· de fo plainly. that (as S. AHjlm fayes) nema ",de halmr. non poJlit, con~e~, .

'J h . d d ' " d (b 'ft d 'I e Mllccl,I,Lr.

(i m.ao a IIlIr"" mn ,.vote ac r«, tleu .<It ". j upya e Hit,' tiq6.

cred,c.6.) but of fuch things there IS. no Qg_efhon comme~c d f III GOH. ~r: in Chrifiendome and if there were, It cannot but be a cnme S"u,h p.8r. and humane int~reH. that are the Authors of {uch dilputes, g C.6. c.rr, and therefore rhefe cannot be fimple errours, but alwayes here- ]b Ad Amitch.

fi b . h .. 1 f h • fi 11 Ji ·'·P·918•

ies, ecauie t e prmcrp eo t em IS a per '?IIa inne, iPar,!.q.T :m,.

But befidesrhefe things which ar.e f<;> plaml¥ fet down.fome 'l-{,UI!'I!J:2, ..

for dochine as S. Paliltayes, that IS, tor Arucles and founda- -

tion of Faith, Come for inHruttiol1, fome for reproofe, Iomc for

comforr, that is, in matterspraBicaJ1 and fpecularive of Ieverall

tempers and conftitutions , there are IIlnul!lerable places con-

taining in them great myHeries, but yet either fa e~wrapped

with a cloud, or to darkned with umbrages, or heigthened

with expreffions, or 10 covered IV ith allegories and garments. of

H :3 Rheto!ick

60

The Liberty 8f Prophefying.

Rhetorick, [0 profound. in the matt~r • or fo. altered or made intricate in the manner, In the clothing and in the drefling, that God may feeme [Q have left the,m as tryal!, of o?r induflry, and Arguments of our imperfedions , and tn~enuvesto, the lonainas after heaven, and the dearell revelations of eternity, anl as"occalions and opportunities of our mutuall charity and toleration to each other, and humility in our felves , rather then the repofitories ofFaith, and furniture of Creeds, and Ar~icles of beliefe.·

For wherever rhe word of God is kept, whether in Scrip-, ture alone, or alto in Tradition,he that confiders that. the meanins of the one and the truth or certainty of the other are thi~gs of great '~eltion, will fee a neceffiry in tbefe. things, (which are the fubJea matter of moA: of the Q_g,efhoDiof Chriflendcme ) that men Ihould hope to be excuied ~y an implicite faith in Cod Almighty. Forwhen th~re are in the Explications of Scripture (0 many Comme~tatles, fo many, (enCes. and Interpretations, fo many Volumncs In. all Ag~s,; and all, like )nens faces, exactly none like another, either t~1lS. dtffer~nc,e and Inconvenience is abtolurely no fault at .all, or If It be, I: IS exc)lfable, by a minde prepar'd (0 confenc ~n ~hat truth \~hlC.h Gpd intended. And this I callan implic.ite ~a~th 111 ~o.d, which is certainly of a. great excellencyas an implkitc.Faith inany ~an or company of men.· Becaute they .who doe reqUl(e an implicire Faith in the Church for Articles Iefle neceffary, 3?d excufe the want of explicite Faith by the implicit~, doe req~ue an.implicite Faith in the Church, became they believe that <;i0d hath required of them to . have a minde prepared to believe whatever the Church fayes; which becaufe it is.a pr?poGti~n of no abfolute certainty, whereever does!n readinefle ?fmmde. believe all rhar God fpake, does alfo believe that fufficle_ntly, If it be fitting to be believ'd, that is ,if it be true. and I~ G~d harh.faid [OJ forhehath the Iame obedience of underflanding in this as in (he other. Bot becaufe it is not [0 certain God hath tyedhim in all things to believe that whichis called the Church, and that it iJ certain we mull believe God in all dungs, and yet neither know all that either God hath revealed or the Church raughr, it is benet to take the certain then the uncertain, to

. believe

The Liherty of Prop'Jef'}'ing.

6r

believe God rather then men, efpecially fince if'Codharh bound us [0 believe men, our abfolute fubmiffion to God does-involve that, and there is no inconvenience in the world this way, but that we implicitely believe one Article more, ot«; the Churches Authority or infallibility, which may well be pardone~, becaufe it fecures our beliefe of all the reli, and we are Cure If we believe all that God {aid explicitely or implicirely , .we alfo believe the Church irnplicirely in cafe we are bound to It j but we are not certain, that if we believe any company of men whom we call the Church. that we therefore obey God and believe !",har he hath {aid, But however, if this will not help us, there IS no help for us, but good fortane or abfolute ~re~ellinatio~; for by choyce and indullry, no man can fecure himfelfe that 111 allthe mylteties of Religion taught in Scripture he !hall . ce~tatnly underlland and explicitely believe that [en[e. that G~d mtended. For to this purpole there are many. confiderations. .

I. There are (0 many thoufands of Copies that we:e wnr NlIlNb ... ,

by perfons of feverall inrerefls and. p~r[lVafi?~s.' fuch differcnr '

underflandings and tempers, filch. dlHmCt abilities and weaknef-

fes, that it is 1'l0 wonder there 15 fo great vanety of readings

both in the Old Teflament and in the New. In the Old Te·-

Ilamenr, the Jewes pretend that the Chrillians nave corrupted

many places, on purpofe to make fymph?ny between both the Teliaments, On the-other fide, the Chriftians have-bad fo much'

rea Con to lufpea the Jewes, that when Aquila had tranflated

the Bible in their Schooles and had been taught by them, they

rejected the Edition many' of themyand lome of them called it"

here[y to follow it. AndJIIj1iTJ VUilrlJ~ juHified·it to TrJpholl"

that the Jewes had defalk'd manr-faYlngs .from the·. Books ol

the old Prophets and amongfl the rett, he inflances m that of

the Pfalm Dicit: i" ,,"tio1fibUt <Jui" DDminllO regna'f,lit li ligno.

The lail ~ords they have cut off. and prevail'd 10 farre in ir ,

that to this day none of our Bibles hav~ it; but if t~e~ ought

not to have it, then JlIffin 0J!4rtJrl Bible had more m It the.n

it fhould have .fer there it was; (0 that a fault there was ei-

ther under or dyer. But however; there are infinite Readings

in the New Tetlament (for in that r will inflance) [ODl~ whole

Vetfe; in- one that are nor in another. and there was 1Il lome'

H 3 Copies

The Li/;ere1of Prophe[ying.

The Liherty of Prophe[ying. ~.3.

----,-C-o-:pic--es-o-:fc--S-. c...u.- ark.! Cofpel i~-~he laft _ Chapter a-w-h-o-Ie-v-e~rfe,-;' Chapter it was anciently called, that is not found in our Bibles, as S.Hierom. lId H,di/Jiltm, q'3' notes, The words he repeats, Lib.2. contra Polygamot. Et if/; falltjacielJII"t diCtnlef,foculll1l; iStud iniqllilalif o- increalliitalit fl!J/fanlill eft·, 'lila non jinit per imm1411dof fPi~illlf 'IIeram Dei apprehendi 'IIirlfitem, it/circo j4", nun~ reuet« ,ujliliam III"m. Thefe words are thought by fame, to iavour of UW411lchaijme, and for ought I can finde were therefore reje~ed out of many Greek Copies, and at laB: ,?ut o~ the Larine. Now fuppofe that a 0J{lInich:e in di· Ipuration fhould urge this place, having found it in his Bi, ble, if a Catholike lhould anfwer him by faying it is Apo. cryphall, and not found in divers Greek Copies, might not the Manichee ask how it came in J if it was not the word of God, and if ir was, how came it out? and at laB: take the lame libertJ: of r~jecH~g any other Authority which {hall be alledged agalOf! hIm; It he can finde any Copy that may favour hlm~ however that favour be procured; and did not the chianileJ rejeCt all the Epifiles of S. Palll upon pretence he was an ene~y [0 [he Law ofUf,lofosl indeed it was boldly and molt unreafonably done; but if one title or one Chapter of S. UWKrt_be.calJed Apocryphall, for. beine fufpecled of MA~Iichtijme, It IS a plea that will too much julHfy others in [heir raking and chuting what [hey lilt. But I will not urae it fo lime; but is not there as much reafon fo! [he fierce Lr~'hmtnf [0 reject the Epiiile of S. James for favouring juttification by works, or the Epif!le to the Hc/;rmm, upon pretence that the !!xtb ~nd tenth C11a~ters doe favour N,v<ltianijme; efpeciaJly Iince It was by rome ramous Churches at firlt not accepted.even by the Church of Rome her felle? The Parable of the woman !aken in a~uJtery, which is now in Joh.s. f,,!e!Jius tayes was not in any ~Olpe1, but the Gofpel [ecltJJdll'n H.!Jr.os ,and S. Hierom makes It doubrfulJ, a_nd fo does s. ChrJfofl.mc and Euthimiul, rhe fid! not vouchfafing to explicate it in Homilies upon S.}ohn, the other affirming it not to be found in the exader Copies. I (hail no] neede to urge that there are Iome words fa neer !n found, [bat the Scribes might ealily miliake , There. is

.. one fa mous one of !\vf;(J J"MJ,P'i£, I which yet feme COPl(S se-ad

read "~rp!, h~,u,,7H, the {enfe is very unlike though the words be neer , and there needs {omt> lirrle luxation to Hraine this latter reading to a good fenfe; r'hat famous precept of S.P""I that the women mutt pray with a covering on their head tl~' 't~1 d"ll'i~.{, becaufe of the Angels, hath brought into the Church an opinion that Al'lgels are prefem in Churches, and are Spectators of our devotion and deportment. Such an opiIlion if it Ihould meet with peevilb oppotires on one fide, and confident Hyperafpitts on the other, might polJibly make it SeCt and here were a cleer ground for the affirmative, and yet whd knowes but that it might have been a miflake of the Tranfcribers to double the y? tor if it were read J'.J. .,..~ .;"~.,, that the Jenfe be. women in publike Aflemblies mull: weare a vaile, by reaion of the Companies of the young men there prefenr , it would be no ill exchange for the lotTe of a letter, to make fo probable fo cleare a fenCe of rhe place. But the infiances in this kinde, are tOO many. as appears in the variety of readings in feverall Copies proceeding from the negligence or ignorance

of the Trankribers , or the malicious' endeavour of Herericks, • G,,,,cico:" or the inferring MarginaU Notes into the Text, or the neere- ruperunr no. nefle of (everall words. Indeed there is fo much evidence of rhis VUIll refla· pmicula~, tIm it hath encouraged the fervams of the Vulgar n:;,t~:"T~:t5:

Tranllauon (for fo tome are 110W adayes) to preferre that Tran, J 5 adv M '. flation before the Originall ; for although they have attempted c·;o·n.Eufeb.l.'r. that propofition with very ill fuccefleyer that they could think it Hill. c. ulr, I. poffible to be provo d. is an Argument there is much variety £<)]",.1.1. 1"9" and alterations in divers Texts; for if they were not, it were fi\l"t:rcr.Cl·e· impudence to pretend a Tranflation , and that none of the belt. ~~nr;m;u~~t"

Ihould be berter then the Originall. But fo it is that this va- .

riety of reading is not of flight contiderarion j for although it

be demonHrably true, that all things necelfary to Faith and

good manners are preferv-d from alteration and corruption, be-

caufe they are of things necetfary, and they could not be ne-

ceflary, unlefle they were delivered [0 us, God inhis goodnelf~

and his jllHice having oblig'd himfelf [0 preferve that which he

hath bound us to obferve and keep; yet in other things which

G?d hath not oblig'd himCelfe fo punctually to preierve, in thefe

~hlngs firu;~ .va~iety of reading is I;rept in, every reading rakes

away.'

~~~.-----.,

64 The LibfrtJ of Prophefying. ~'3

.~~------------------------~-~~--

away a degree of certainty from any propoiition derivative from

thole places fa read: Alld if lome Copies (e(pecially if they be publike and notable) emit a verfe or tide, every argument from fIlch a title or verfe lofes much of its llrellgth and reputation; and we finde it in a great illfiallce, For when in probation of the my fiery of the glorious Unity in Trinity, we al. ledge thatfaying of S.John [thtl' art three whi~h hear r<itnef{e ill h.Aven, tb« Father, the W.rd a~d th, Spirit, IlI1d th,ft thm are one:] the Antitri"jtArianl think rhey have anfwered the A rgument by faying the Syrian T ranflation, and divers Greek Copies have not that verfe ill them. and therefore being of doubt fitll Authority, cannot conclude with certainty in a O!!_e. Ilion of Faith, Alld there is all intlance on the Catholike parr. For when the Arria,)J urge the faying of our Saviour, LN. man (now., th~t da) (fl1d hourt(viz. orjudgemenr ) n. 11./ the S01me, bm tb. Fath'T o"ly]. to prove that .the Sonne knowes not all things, and therefore cannot.be God in rhe proper {enle; S. eArn",,!. thinks he hath anfwered the Argument 6y raying, thole words [no 110/ the SO""'J was thruil into the Text by the fraud ofrhe Arriens, So that here we have one objeCtion, which mull lielt be cleared and made infallible, before we can be alcerrain'd in any Iiich Q£.eilioll as to cal! them Hereticks that ditlenr,

NfilnG. 5. 2. J confider that there are very many fenfes and defignsof

expounding Scripture. and when the Grammatical! [ell[e is found cue, we ale many tillles never the neerer, it is not that which was intended; for there is ill very many Scriptures a double fenle, a literal! and a Spiritual! (toe the Scripture is a B.o~ .. rito, lVithin aHd lvilhoHt ( ./ipoc. 5') And both thefe {enfes are fub- divided. For the lirerall Iente is either natural! or figura. rive. And the Spiritual! is fometimes allegorieall , fometimes anogogicall,nay, fometlmes there are divers Iiterall Ienfes in

• us.», (on. the fame len.tenee, as ~. A_ujlin excell~ntly. proves in divers fir cav- 'f * places, and It appears in divers quoranons 111 the New TeihI~lb.l / de Ci- .ment, .where the Apollles and Divine Writers bring the farne vit.[),i.c.I, .. Tellimol1Y to divers purpofes; andparricularly.S. P .. ul'smaking L!.l.de deCl,,-. thar {ayino of the Pfalme , Tho~ art my Sann«, this day havI I ~a Chrl\.cop. hgmm thtel to be an Argument of Chritls RcfurreClion, and

-7· . . . . -. .. .. a

a defignatioD or ordination to his Pontificate is an inllance ve:" rf farnous in his I. and $. chapter to the H.h"wu. But now there being [ueh variety of fenCes in Scripture, and but few places [0 mark'd out, as not to be capable of divers fenfes if men will write Commentaries, as Htrodemade Orations'",,,

.. ,;.In, ~«,1«';",. what infallible "PO",." will be left wbereby

10 judge of the certain dogmaticall refolute fenre of fuel! places which nave been the matter of~efiion? For put cafe a <l!.!,.ellion were comn:'e~c' d concerning the degrees of glory in heaven , as there IS III the Scbooles a noted one, To [hew all illequality of reward, Chrilis Parable is brought of the reward

of ten Cities, and of five according to the divers improvemenrof the Talenrs , this fenfe is myflicall, and yet very probable, and underflood by men for ought I know. [Q this vety fenfe. And the refult ofrhe Argument is made good by S.P",.!,

as on. filmediffirethfrom a"oth,ringIorJ; (0 fhall it be in tlie refulrection of the dead. Now fuppofe another {hould take the fame liberty of Expounding another Parable to a myflieall fenfe and Interpretation, as all Parables mull be expounded 3 then the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard. and though differing in labour, yet having an equal! reward. [Q any man. underHanding may feem very firongly to prove the contrary. and as if it were of purpofe, and that it were prim,.", intl"tum ofrhe Parable, the Lord of rheVineyard derermin'd the point refoJurely up 011 the mutiny and repining of them that had born the bunhen and heat of the day, 1 wil! givt ,."t9 this /1Ij1 'vttJ(I$

to thee; which to my Ienfe feems to determine the <l!.!,.eHion

of degrees; They that work but little, and they that work long, thall not be diHingui!hed in the reward, though accidenraJly they were in the work: And if this opinion could but anfwer

S, Paut, words, it Hands as faire, and perhaps fairer then the other, Now if we look well upon the words ofS. PR,,!,we!halI find~ be (peaks nothing at all of diverfity of degrees of glory in beatified bodies, but the differences of glory ill bodies heaven-

ly and earthly. Ther# 1171 (fayes he) b.ditl ,,,rt"", IIlid rhtle

aT< heavenly. b.di,t: c.A "d one is the gilT} of thUlirthly, IIJlDther th, glor} of tb« heavenly; DHe f,l.TJ of th. S"",an'th.r .of

the c..Moont, e», S9 /hull it G. ill the Rer"rrcf/i_IJ; f.r it it

I jil'ltJc

Hieron.Jn :M.~rth.I3.

The Libelty of Prophefjing.

---"_- "------------

fOI;ne ill corruption, i~ if r~ifld in in~orrupti.". Plainly thus, our bodies in the Returrection {ball differ as much from our boo dies here in the Hate ofcorruption, as one Starre does from ana. zher. And now fuppofe a SeCt fhould be commenc d upon this QJ:!_eflion (upon lighter and vainer many have been) either fide mull: refolve to anfwer the others Arguments, whether they can or no, and to deny to each other a liberty of expounding the parable to Iuch a Ienfe, and yet thernfelves mutt ute it or want an Argument. But men ute to be unjut] in their own cales; And were it not better to leave each other to their liberty,and leek to preferve their own charity? For when the words are capable of a myflicall or a divers J(nte, I know not why mens fancies or underHandings Ihould be more bound to be like one another then their faces: And either in all filch places of Scrip. ture, a liberty mull: be indulg d to ~very honeli ·and peaceable wile man.or elfe all ,Argument from Inch places mufl be wholy declin'd. Now although I intlanc d in a Q!!efiion, which by good fortune never ~ame [0 open defiance, .yet there have been Seth fram'd UpOD lIghter grounds, more rnconfiderable QJ!_e. Iiions, which have been diipured all either fide with Argumena letfe rnareriall and lefle pertinent, S. eAllflin laugbt at the <J)OHlltij}s,for bringing that laying of the Spoule in the Canticlll to prove their Schirm, IndICa mtbi 116i. Fllfoal, ubi cliber in'11(_ ridie. For. from thence they. concluded the refidence of the Church was only in the South part of the world. only in AfriGa. It was but a weak way of Argument , yet the Fathers were free enough to ute fuch mediums, to prove myfieries of great concernment j but %et againe. when they (peak either againl! an A dverJary , or with confiderarion, they deny rhar iuch my' iticall Jenks can Jufficienrly confirm a Q!_ettioll of Faith. But I Ihall inHance in tbe great Qz(licn of Rtbaptizarion of Hereticks, which many Saints,a~d Martyrs, and Confeflors , and divers Councells; and almofi all .Ajia and .Africa did once believe and pratiiJe. Their grounds for rhe invalidity cf the baptilin by a Heretick, were Iuch my Hicall words as thefe,O/eHrJJ peccatsrlf nan impingutt caput m<llm T f. J 40. And Q!!! baptiz,g· , Sur" mortu~ , quid profitit I"v~tio 'JH6? ECc!"!'H" And lib IIqn,l

1I1imA IIbllinttt, Prov, 5' And DrHJ p''C(ltores 11.01) exalJd't;

... Joli.g.

The Liherty 8[ prophefytiIg.

Joh.9. And h, that is lJot with me u againft me, Ltt~Il. I am not Cure the other part had Arguments fo good. For the great one of lina fides, lI1iN", bilplt!ma , did not conclude it to their underflandings who were of rhe other opinion, and men famous III tbeir generanons ; for it was no Argument that they who had been baptized by Johns baptiiin Ihould not be baptized in the name of Jef~s, becauie unm '])tllf unum b>lptifma. and as it is fiiH one Faith which a man c~nfelreth feverali rimes. and one Sacrament of the Eucharifi , thoazh a man ofren .c~mm[jnicates; 10 it 1!1ig[lt be = baptiJm though oft~~ minitired, And the unl~y. of b.apufm might not be denv d fro.n~ theynlty o_f the mllllllrano!l, but frem the uniry ef the Rell!?lon Into which they are baptized; rhouah baptized a thoufaud times, yet becauie it was Hill in the" name of the holy Trinity, Hill into the death of Chrifi, it might be ""um h.1p'ifin_". ~hether S. Cyprian, Firmi/ian ,and their ColJegues had this ditcourfe or no (I know not) I am lure they might have had much better to have evacuated the force of that Argumen.t '. alrhough 1 believe they bad the wrong caute in hand. But this is It rhat I fay, that when a Q!!eHion is [0 underermin'd in Scriprure , that the Argun'ems rely only upon fuch mjfticall places. whencerhe bet! rancies can draw rbe grearcfi vanety, and fuch which perhaps were never intended by the ho, ly GhoH, it were good the rivers cid not {l,velJ bieber then the founraine, and .the confidence higher then the Argument and evidence , for in this cafe there could not any thing be fo -,erraillly proved, as [hat the difagreeing patry fhould deferve to be condemn'd by a (emence of Excommunication tor difbelieving it • and yet they were; which I wonder at 10 much !ge more, becaute they ~ I"!~o as it was fince judg'd) had the light caufe, had not any lufliclenr Argument from Scripture, not f~ ~lIch as {uch myq,i,fall Arguments, but did fly to the Tra. dillon of [be Church, m which alfo I {ball afterward {.hew, tbey had not bing that was abfolutely certaine,

,~. !~ confider that [here are divers places of Scripture con- 'lI{,lIm~. 6, talOlIlg 111 them my Reries and ClE>Hions of great concernment

and yet the fabrick and confli tution is tuch, that there is n~

certain mark to determine whether the fenfe of them fhould

- I2' ~

TIlt Li6erty of P1ophefying.

The Li6ertyof Prophefyi;;g.-----'---6'9------

i

I'

beIiterall or figurative; I fpeak not here concerning extrinfecall meanes of determination, as tradirive Interpretation, Councels, Fathers, Popes, and the like; I [hall confider them afterward in their feverall places; but here the fubje6t matter being can. cerning Scripture in its own capacity, I fay there is nothing ill the nature of the thing to determine the fenfe and meaning, but it mull be gotten out as it can j and that therefore it is unrealonable, that what of it [elfe is ambiguous Ihould be underrlood in it! own prime fenfe and intention, under the paine ofeirher a finne or an Anathema; I in Hance in that famous place from whence hath tPfLUlg that Q!.!.eHion of Tranfubilantiation, Hoc eft corpri! mum;, The words are plain and clear. apt to be underflood in the literall tenfe and yet this fenCe is fo hard as it does violence to reafon , and therefore it is the Qg_eHion whether or no it be not a figurative fpeech. Bat here what Ihall we have to determine it? What mean foever we take, and to what [enre foever you will expound it, you {hall be put [0 give an account why you expound other places of Scripture in the iiur.e cafe to quite contrary fentes, For if you expound it literally, then betides that it feerns [0 intrench up· on. the words of our blefled Saviour, The word,that I /PM~ th'J are Spirit and th'J are'life, that is, to be fpiritually underHood (and it is a miferable thing 10 fee what wretched lhifis are "Ired to reconcile the literall fenfe (Q thefe words, and yet to diHinguilh it from the Capernairicall fancy) but betides this, why are not thole other fayings of Chrifl expounded literal- 1~ J I am a Vine., I am the D'oore , I am a Rock." Why doe we flie to a figure 111 rhofe parallel words? This ;s the COVln~1fI which I m,,~e Imween me and lOH; and yet that Covenant was but the lign of the Covenant; and why doe we fly to a figure 1D a precept, as well as in myflerj and a prcpofirion ? If thJ rr;ght h""d.offelld the. cut it off; and yet ~bave figures eriou8h to fave a limb, If it be faid becaufe reafon tells us thefe are not [Q be expounded according [0 the letter; This will be no plea for :them who retaine [he literal! expofirion of the other inHance againH all. reafon, againfl al! Philofophy, ag.ainf.! all fenfe, and againfl two or three fciences. But if you expound ,here words figuratively, betides that you are to CODIeil againH

- - .. a

70 _!_~e__I-_ihertJ Of Prop~0_g. ~.3.

---d-oe-fr-o-m~hence baptize Infants, tbough with a Iefle opinion of irs abtolute necefliry, And yec rhe fame manner of precept in rhe Came forme of words, in the {arne manner of tbrearnino by an exc'ufive negative, [hall nor enjoyn us to ccmmu~i~ate In.anrs , rhOl1gh damnation (ar leall: in forme of words) be exaCl-ly and p,r omni" alike appendant co the neglect of holy Ilaprilm and the ~'e!1erable Euchari!~. If [ni,r, 'Juit re'Jatllf] {lull conclude againi] rhe Anablpl1ft, for necefliry of bapriz ing Infants (as Iiire enough we ray, ir does) why Ihal; not an equaf: [niji' com;d"'ilit J bring_ Jn~ams to the Iholy Comm~. 1110n? The Primitive Cburch tor Ierne two whole Ages did !ollow their own principles, where ever they lead them; and fee. in" that upon the lame ground equall refults mull: follo\v, tb~y did Communicate Infants as loon as they had baptized rhem. And why the Church of Rome fhould nor do~ (o teo, being Ole expounds [ IIiji com:dmw] of orall manducation , I can!l?~ yet learn a rear on. And for orhers that expound ir of a lpirituali manducarion , why chey 01a1l not allow the dilagreeing pare the lame liberty of expounding [n!fi 'lui; renrltUI J too, I by no mcanes can underHand. And m thefe cafes no e},rerna!l determiner can bee pretended 10 anlwer, For wharfoever IS exrrin.ecall ro the words, as Councels, Tradition, Church Authority, and Fathers, either hare laid 1'1othing at all, .0r. have concluded by their praclife contrary to the prefenr opirnon. as is Fldine in their communicating Infams by vel rue of [>1i,1 co-

mderiliI·l

s- I (hall nor need to urge the myfleriou'heffe of {orne

points in Scripture, which e» natura rei are hard to be under!tood though very plainly reprefenred, For there are (ome [ecrct« Tb(o!ogi~, which are only to be underftood by perlo:lS very holy and {pirituail., w~l!ch are rather to be felc then Mcourted of, and therefore II peradventure they be _offered [Q publike confideration , they will therefore be .oppol~d becaufe rhey runne the {arne forruoe with many other Q£_efhons_, th~t is not co be underilood, and 10 much the rather becaule their u~de!Handing, that is, rhe feeling fiich fecrers of the Kiogdome, are not rhe refults of Logick and Philofophy , nor yet ofp.ub. like revelation, bur of the publike {pirit privately working,

- and

Numb. 8.

Tbe Liberty of Prophefjing.

71

and in no man is a c'my. bur in all rhat hare it, is a reward,al~c1 is not neceffary (or all, bur given to Iome, producing its operations, not reeularly. bur upon occafions, perionall necel!itics and new emergencies. Of this nature are the {pirit of obiignation, beliefe of particular falvation, fpeciall influences and comforts comming from a len Ie of the {pirit of adoption, a :luall fervour- and grear complacencies in devotion Ipirituall joye" which are little drawings afide of the curraines of peace and eternity, and anrepafis of' immortality. Bur the not underHandit·g the per.ect conltirucion and temper of thefe mytlerics (aod IC is hard lor any man 10 to underttand , as [0 make others doe fo too that reete them nor) is caufe that ill many Q!!_eHions ot Jeerer Theo!ogy , by being very apc and cary co be rnillaken , there is a necetiiry in forbearing one another; and this confideration would have been of good ule in the Qul!llion between SOlO and C .. tharimll, both tor the prelervation of their cnarity and expiicarion of the mytiery,

6. Bur here it will nor be unfeafonable ro confider, rhar NtIi'!1I!.~, all fytlems and principles of Icience are expreifed 10 char either

by reaion of the Llniverialiry of the rermes and fubje8: matter

or the infinite variety of humane undedlandings,and rhefe per.

adventure fwayed by inreret+, or derermin'd by thillgs accidenrall

and cxtrinfecall, they teem ro divers men, nay to the fame

men uron divers occaiions to !peak[hing~ extremly. diiparare

and fomerimes contrary, but very often ot grear vartety. And

this very thing happens alto in Scripture; that ific were nor

inre f.rcra & fln,l, it were excellent fport to obterve how

the fame place of Scripture (erves Ieverall rums upon cccatiou;

and they at chat rime believe che words round nothirg elle,

whereas in the liberty of their judgement and abltrJCting from

char occafion, their Commentaries underftand them wholy to a

differing feme, It is a wonder of what excellent ufe to the

Church of Rome, is [tzbi d,,/;o claucs : J It was rpoken co Peter and

none el{e (fometimes) and therefore i~ conc~rns him and h!s_

Succeifors only lthe' rel] are to derive from 111m. And yet It

you ~ellion rhem for their Sacramento! Penance, and Prie(tly

Ablolution. then tib; da60 clavtl comes in, and tbat was 'poken

:0 S.Puer, and in him to the whole Colledgecf the Aroilles!

30C

Bdlar. Eb.~. .J:: p(lmit~c.3. § rcfpondco 1':"JU1Ut

rl)e Liherty of Prophe[ying. ~'3.

a-;di;;tEe~-rotbe whole Hierard;y~-if-you q~~ftion whY th-;

Pope pretends to free fouIes from Purgatory. lihi dabo cI~'!", is his warrant; but if you tell him the Keyes are only for bind. ing and looling on Earth dire6Hy, and in Heaven conlequenrly, and that Purgarory is a part of Hell, or rather neither Earth nor Heave? Il?l" Hell! and [0 the ~eyes Ieem to have nothing to doe IY ith ir.then his Comm ffion IS to be enlarged by a lupplero. ry ot reafon andconlequences.and his Keyes Ihall unlock this dit: ficulry ; tor It IS clavi! fiimtiot as weJJ as Iluthoritali!. And there Key.es (hall e~able him to expound Scriptures infallibly, to determine Q!!.elhons, to pretide in Councels, to dictate to ail the World MagiHerialJy. ro rule the Church, ro diipence with Oaths, to abrogate Lawes : And if his Key of knowledze will nor, the Key of Authority Ihall , and Ii!;; dabo c/~vel (h~ll an. fiver tor all. We b~ve an mHance in the lingle fancy of one man, what rare vanety of matter is afforded from thofeplain words of[. Oreui pr~ Ie Petre J LII~ 22. for that place Iajes Bellilrmll1e, IS otherwJfe to be underfioodof Peter, otherwife of the _Popes, and otherwile of the Church of Rome. And [pro Ie] Iign_I1ic! that Chnit prayed that Peter might neither erre perlona'Iy nor judicially, and thar Peters Succeflors if they did errc Ferlon~lly, might not erre judicially, and that the Roman ~hurch might not erre penonally, All this variety of fcore 13 pretended by. the fancy of one man> to be in a few words w hich are as plain and fimple as are any words in Scripture. And whar then in thofe thoutsnds that are intricate? So is done with pafte ova which a man would rhink were a com. ,?i~ion as inn~ce~t and guilrletre of defigns, as the !beep in the 101a5 ar~. Bur If.lt be asked why the Bifhop of Rome calls him[elfe Univerfall BI(hOP, p"fie oues is his warrant> Why he pretends to a power of depoJing Princes P "fcc aues {aid Chriti to 'Peur, the Jecond time .. ~f it be de~anded why alfo he pretends to a po.wer ot a~th0.r'zl11g his fubjeas to kill him, P"fie "£"01 [aid Chnj~ the thud time.' And pafte is dsce, and p"fie is Imper«, and pafie IS O(C:df. Now If others fhould rake the fame (unreafonablel:e{~e I IV III n~t . lay J bur. the lime) liberty in expounding ~erlp;lI:cJ_ cr_ If J( be nor licence taken, but that the Scripture 1L Ielfe IS 10 lull and redundanc in (ellles quite conrrary , what

I"llau

e·4· The Lihert) of Prophe(yblg. 73

;;;a~[oever, o;-;ha;-~mpany of ni;;;J"o-e'-le-r-a-]-a-U-U-re -chis- ---principle, will cert.ainly finde fuch _rare productions {rem teve-

r~1l p'aces , that either: the unrealo?abknen~ of rhe tbing will

diicover the errour of the p.oceed'lJo, or elre rl.cre will be a

necefliry of permitting a great lihwy of judsernenr where

is fo i~finite .variety without Iimir or mark or 'necetlary deter-

mmanon. If the I1rH, then becaute an crrour is 10 obvious and

rc.dy (o.cllr ldyes, it will be we_at imprudence or lyr .. nny to

be bally 111 Judglllg others; but It the larter it is it that I con-

tend to:- '. for it is. molt unreafonable , when' either the thing it

Iehe minitlers variety, or that we take licence 10 cur ldves in

variety of inrerprerarions , or proc'aime to aJJ the world our

great wea~n.etre, by our aCluol.ly be_ing ceceived, (hat we fhould

eitl.er .prelcl~be to others .magl£1enally when we are in errcur,

or IUnIt their undertiandings when the thing it [elfe affordsli-

berry and variety.

SECT. IV .

Of the dIfficulty of Expounding Scripture.

T Hefe confiderarions are taken from the nature of Scripture ir [elte j bur then if we confider that we have no certain wayes of determining places of difficulty and ~ettion, .infal-

lib;y and certainly, but that we mutt hope to be 13V'd in the be-

liere of things plaine , neceffary and fundamenrall, and our pi-

ous endeavour [Q finde out Gods meaning iR Iiich places which

he ha.h left under a cloud for other great ends relerved to

his own knowledge> we thall (ee a very great neceffity in al-

lowing a liberty in Prophelying without pre.cribirg aurhorira-

Lively to other rr ens coniciences , and b.comming Lords and

Mailers of their Faith., Now the meanes of expoundiogvcrip-

ture are either exterriall, or inrernall, For theexternall, as

Church Authority, 1 radition, Fathers. Councels and Decrees

of Biihops, they are of a diftinCl: conrideration , and to!;ow,

afrer in their order. But here we willlirll confider the inva-

Edity and uncertainty of all thole meanes of expounding

K Scripture

--;4-'-~~'---~'--~--'lhe Uhmy of Prophefying.

---_

Scripture which are more proper and internal! to the nature of the thing. The great Mailers of Commentaries, feme whereof have undertaken to know all myfleries, have propounded many wayes to expound Scripture, which indeed are excellent helps but not infallible affiHances. both becaufe rhemlelves are bu; moral! infirumenrs which force not truth e« ab[condito. as allo becaufe they are not infallibly ufed and applyed. T. Sometime the, ienre is dra\~n forth by the context and connexion of parts:

It IS well when it can be to But when there is two or three antecedents, and fLlbjeets rpoken ofwhat man or what rule 111all afcer~ain m~ ~hat I make my reiere,nee true by d:dWlng the relation to Iuch an antecedent, to which I have a rninde to ap. ply it, another bath not. For. in a contexture where one part does not alwayes depend upon another , Where rhinos of differi~g. mrures intervene and interrupt the firll: intenti~m, [here,lt IS = alwa~es very probable to e,xpound Scripture, rake its meaning by IrS propornon to the nelghbourina words. But who defires ratislaction in this, may read the oblerl'ation verified in S. qr~!,orJ's moralls upon Job,1ib.5c. '9, and rbe in. Rances he ~here_ brings are excellent proofe , ,that _this way of Inrerprerarion does not warrant any man to rmpole his Expo. fitions upon the beliefe and undenlanding of other men roo

confidently and magiHerially.

3. Another great pretence of medium is the conference of

places, which dt)ric(1f calls iN!,'''! rmudfum & feliciffim:rm expojitionem fimEt~ flr1plur,,; and indeed 10 it is it well and temperacely ured; but then we are beholdino to them that doe 10 j, for there is 110 rule rhar can contlrain them to it; for compa!l~B ~f places is of 10 indefinite capacity, that it' there be ambIgu.uy of ,words, variety of (en:e , alteration of circum. Hances, or difference of Hile amonell Divine Writers then there is nothing !hac m~y be more ~buted by \\il!ull people, or mly m.ore eafily deceive the unwary. or that may arnu.e d~ molt mt~lhge~lt Obferv,er. The Anabaptills rake advanrabe ~nough 1Il this proceeding, (and indeed II) may anyone that,l~lt) and when we pretend againt] them the nccefliry of bJPtlzrng all, by authority of ".iii 'l"'" renat es f,..ri, e» aqtllt & lltrllff, they hare a parallel lor It, and tell us that Chr,lr

. - will

The Li6erty of rropheJjing.

75

will bllptht U1 with tbe holy q hoft (lnd with fir~. and chat one place expounds the ~tber; an~ becaufe by fire is not meant an Eleme~lr 6,." any t111n~ that IS narurall , but _an Allegory and £gurauve expreflion ot [he fame thing , [0 alio by water may ~e rnea,nt the figure (t~nify!ng the effeCt or manner of operanon ot the holy Spirit. FIre Il1 one place, and water in the other, doe but reprefenr to us that Chritis bapti.m is norhins elfe but the cleanting and pUliiying us by the holy Ghofl , Bu~ that which I here note as of grearell: concernment, and which in all reafon ought to be an utter overthrow to this topique , is an univerfali abufe of it among rhoie rhar ure it rnolt , and when two places teem co have the [arne expreffion , or if a word have a double fignifiea[i~Jl1, becauie in chis place ir may have Iuch a tente , thererore l[ muli , becaule in one of the places rhe knfe is to their purpote, they conclude that there. fore it mut] be fo in the other roo. All inflance I give in the great Q!_c::flion between tbe Jocillian, and [he Catholikes, It any pla-ce be urg'd in which our blefled Saviour is called God, they {hew. you two or three where the word God is taken in a depretled fenle, far a quufl Dei« , as when God laid [Q tJi,t"fo', Cor.(fttui te Dei,'", Pha,".,,,,; and: hence they arG!1e, becaule I can thew the word is u.ed for a '])'141 [JEtHr, therefore no Argumen~ is iufficiem to prm'e Chriti [0 be Veue verlif from the appellative of D&II1. And might not another argue to the exact comrary, and as well urge that M.fos is D'H! ueres, becaufe in lome places [he word '])"'f is uted pro De» eterna : Both wayes the Argument concludes impioully and unreatonably. It is a fallacy a poffi ad efJe 4fir".allve; becauie breaking of bread is (ometirnes uied lot an Eucharitiicall maudocation in Scripture; therefore I {hall not from any tertimony of Scripture affirming the firH ChrilHans to have broken bread togetber, cor-elude that they liv'd hofpitably and in common rcciery. Becauie it may poffibly be eluded, therefore it does not tignifie any rhing, And this is the great way of anfwering all the A rgumencs that can be brought againtt any thing that any man bath a mind (0 defend; and any man thac reads any conrroverfies of any fide. Ihall finde as many inllanccsofthis vanity almofias he finds _ Arguments from Scrip-

K 2 mre,

76 the Liherty of P,ophefjing~ ('4.

-----' ture j this fault was of old noted by S.AujJm,for then they bad

De <Jon r ', got the trick, and he is angry at it, mch en;m "utar~ d"bo""f

Chri.uan, ,J[e pr£jc;'iptum, ut quod tn ali,!"' loco res alitllJl& p,r ji."ili.

J,b·3· fNdwcm (g>lific.v,rit, hoc etiam flmpe .. Jigntfic~re c'~d4mU!,

't-{jlmG. 3' 3' Oftentimes Scriptures are pretended ro be expounded by

J proportion and Analogy of reaton, And this is as the other, it' it be well, its well. But unlerle there were lome intel/diu! !t/tiverJ~lit filrniihe,l with infallible propoitions , by referriog to which every man might argue iniallibly, this logick may deceive as well as any or the reii , For it is with reafon as with mens taties ; aJtlJo~'gh there are lome generall principles which are reatonable to all men, yet erery man is O'Jt able to draw out all its coniequences , nor to underliand them when they are drawn forth .nor to believe when he does underftand them. There is a preceprof S. Paul directed ro the .rh'/f.<loniwbe. fore they were garher'd into a body of a Church, 2 Th'[.1' 6. To withdrmv from e1J~ry Groth,r t/Jllt wllI'<1th diflrderfJ. But if this precept were !lOW obferved , I would faine know whether we fhould not fall into thatinconvenience which S.PaN/ fought to avoyd in giving the fame comrnandement to the Church of (ormth, I Cor.). 9' [wrote to JO!J tbat p~ jhould /tot t:DI1JP~'J with fornielltors; And JU not allogether with the f'0rnic4Im of thit w.rld ,for then lee mu(f goe '!It of tb~ warld : And there. foee he reHraim it to a quitting the fociery iof ChriHians li, ving iii Ii ves. But now that all the world hath been Chritiisns, if we fhould lin in keeping company with virions Cl1riliians, mut! we not alfo goe out of this world? Is not the precept made null, becau.e the reafon is altered, and things are come abour.and that the ., '1i~M" are the brethren "J""~" '"1-'.(01''''' called brerhren.as S, Pault phrafe is? And yet either this never was comidered, or not yet believed; for it is generally taken [0 be obligatory, though (I think) ieldomepracliled But when we come to expound Scriptures to a cerraine lenfe by Argu· ments drawn from prudenriall motives, then we are in a va(t plain without any fultJcienr guide, and we iliall have fv many fenCes, as th~re,ar.::bumane prudences. But rhat which goes further then tn,S, IS a parity or reafon from a plain place of Scripture 10 anoblcure, from thac which is plainlyfet down in a Tm

- .'. ---, -- .. [0

The Liherty of Prophefyif)g~

77

----~-~--.-.-.- .. '-.------~~. --

to another that is more remote from it. And thus is that place in S. v";{"llhew forced, !f thy I>rqther refufo to I>e IImmded, J)ie "cleji£. Hence tome of the Roman Doctors argue, If Ch61l: command, to tell the Church in cate of adultery or private ,injury, then much more _in care of befery. "Yell, ruppo'e this to be a good Inrerpretaricn , Why muti I Iray here? Why may nor I alto adde by a parity of reafon, If the Church mufi be [Old of herety, much more of treaion . And why may not I reduce all ilnnes to the cognizance of a Church rribunall, as lome men doe indire+ly , and S"tc"nut does heartily and plainly? If a mans principles be good, and h~s deductions Cer~ rain he need not care whether they carry him. But when an Authority is intrufied to a perfon , and the extent of his power exprefled in his commilTion, it will not be jaf~ty to meddte beyond his commitlion upon confid~nc~ of a panty ot. reafon, To inliance once more; When ClmH in paJe. oVel or t» N Petrus, gave power ro the Pope to govern th~ Church (tor to that lenJe the Church of Rome expound! tholcAutnorlClcs) by a certain confequence of real on, lay they, be gave ~11 things nece!fary for exercife of this jurifJittion. and therefore in pufc~ ova] he gave him an indirect power over tempo~alJs. for t!13t is neceflary that he may doe hIS duty r WeI!, hrving g?ne tnus farre, we will s= further upO,n, [h~ panty of realon , were!ore he hath given the Pope the gIlt ot tongues, and he hath gIven him power co give it; for how elfe fhall X~vierconvert the [11- dwu? He harh given him alfo powe.r to ~om~and t~e Seas and tile winds, that they fhould obey him, for this alfo IS very necdrary in lame cares, And 10 p .. [c« oues is accip« d.nuT» /i,:s,,,,rum, and Imper« -uenti«, &- d'fi'o'" reg"m di4d,matll, &- 1>l1C_0- rum pr<taia, and I?IjltI'MIIIJ ca:/i (00, and, wharfoever the panty of reafon wili judge equally m:ce!ia,ry 1Il order to p~fc" aves; when a man does ipeak reafon , It IS but reaton he fl10uld be heard; but Ihm·gh be may have rhe good fortune, or rhe great abiities to doc it, yet he bath not a certainty, 110 regular i~. fallible all,H.nce J no inipi.ation of Arguments ,and deducti- 0111 ; and if he had. yecbecauCe it m~tt be rea ion that ~ult judge of reafon, unlefle other mens unaerflaodlDgs were ot the i.;\: .yre, the lame coniiinuion and ability, rhey cann_Ot. ~f!

.. .-, K 3 prefcrib d.

The Libert) of prophejjing.

----:------p~;;~~;b'd unto, by an~ther mans r~al~n; efpecial,ly becauie luen

\ rcaronings as U!i131;y are!n exp!tC3non of pameula~ plac~s. of Scripture, depend upon mrnure :trcumflance_s and paru:ularmes, in which it is fo earv to be deceived, and 10 hard [0 ipeak reaion rq';lllJrly and alwayes, that it is Ihe greater wonder if we be not deceived.

Nf'iwb. + 4' Otl.ers pretend to cxrOl~nd Scrip~ure, .by the analogy ?f

faith and that is the moil Jure and infallible way (as It II dWllg~'t:) Bur upon flrider .tllfl·ey it, is bsr a Chimera , a tbir'" in IIIJ/Jt!JfI! which varies like the rlgOt hand and left hand of /Pillar and ar toe belt is bur like 1i1~ Co Jan of a Country [0 a Traveller cut or' his \Vay; It may ~ring him to his jourI1cyc~ en~ thoJJp.b rwenry mile ab_out! it ,n:ay k~ep h:m trom flllm:ng 1I1lO the Sea, and frcl11lTIIHaklllg ,/i:Ilver ,0: dry bnd,; bur whether this little path or tile other be the nghr \Vay It (ells nor. So is tbe analogy ofFairh, that is , if I un,derlt,drJd it ljolJe, the rule of Faith, that IS the Creed. Now were ir not a 1';nc device to gee to expound all the Scripture. by the Creed, there be;J1" in ir Io many rboufand places whIch have no more relation" to allY Arrick in the Creed, thtn they bare ro Tit)Te t u partll,?' Indeed if a man retolves to keep tile al'a:o~y of Faith, that is to expound Scriprure , 1'0 25 not co coe ~l1y violence ro .any Iimdsmenral) A~ric1e, be f11all he iure however be CITes yet nor to dettroy Fairb , he !hall ~Ot pedl, in his Expolition. And that was the precept gll'Ctl by S,'Plltll, tim all Prophefyings [liould be ellimared xd,_' .i'~A,)t"V ,,;,,tv,, Raw.cr2. and to this very purpofe, S • .Auf1i/J 111 his lxpcfiticn of qmc(if, by way of Pref.ce le~s dow~ tile Arric.ee of Faith, with this ddigt1 and proreflation ot It, tim 11 he {~yes nothirg a~ainfl thole Art ides , though he mille tile parricular lenfe of tile place, there 15 110, da~ger, or Iinne In hIS Expcfirion j but how that analogy of Fat~h nl~ll!d have any orber ipflu{nce in e~FoLlndillg fuch places In which thoie Arric.cs of' Faith are neither exprelfed, nor involvd, 1 uncerliand IIGr. Bur then if you extend the analogy of Fait!l further then that which is proper to rhe rul~ or Symbol of Pairh, the,n {very man expounds Scripture according t? ~he analogy 01 Fmh; but I,hat? Hi. own Faith: which F311h If t[ be quelilonedJI am 110

rno.e

,-_:_,---:-~-- -----_._----_._-- -

The Li6ert) of PlopbefJing. 79

[,4.

------------------~--~--~~----

more bound to expound according to the analogy of allot/:e:,

mans Faith, then he ro expound accordlllg to rhe at1alogy 0,

mine. And this is ic that is complain'd on of a!1 fdes that

overvalue their OWD opinions, Scripture feems fo dearly to

Ipeak what tbey believe, chat they wonder all ,the world

does not fee it as clear as tbey doe; bur they ~atlslie the!Il-

felves with faY'ina thar it is becaufe they come WIth prejudice,

t> b '" I ' hei I ld

whereas if they had the true elr~I~, t iat IS, I eirs , t:~ey wou:

eau:y fee what they fee. And this 15 \'ery true : ! or It they did believe as others believe, they would expound Scriptures t.o t1_ltlr lenie; bur if this be e~poundi~li according ro the am!ogy of Faith, it ligt1ifies no more then rim, Be you of my mind ~n,d then , my Arguments will ieem concluding and 111:( A~.Hb.onties a~ Allegations prelling al_ld pewnem.: And ~!11S WIll ierve on ~Il fides and therefore WIll doe but little Iervice to the derermi; natio~ of <l!!_;lIions, or pretCribing to other mens conlciences on any fide.

Latily , Cornuhing the Orisinals is t,ho~ght a. great l11at~er NflmG. )' to Jmerpretarion of ~criptures. But this IS to 1ma!1 purpo,e:

F'Jr indeed it will expound the Hebrew and the Greek, and re-:tifie Tranflarions. But I hl10W no man that Iayes that the Scriptures in Hebrew and Greek ~re eafie and certa!nc to ,b: ur.de:llood, and that they are hard 111 Larine and Enghf11 : The ~illiculry is in the tbing bc:w,ever it be exprefled , the leJi{ is 111 tile language. If the Onglt1JII Languages were our mother ton~u'~ Scripture is not much the caner to us ~ and a narnrall

b , . 0' I

Greek or a jew, can with no more rea.on, nor .~':t amy 00-

trudc his Interpretations UpOll other ~lens COt1IC,lesce~,~ then. a nun or another Nation, AJJC to this thar the inpect ron o~ the Orieinall is no more certain way of Interprct ation or

", h'Fh JI)'"

Scripture now then it was to tear. ers an l~ll~Ill\'C

Age, of the Church; and yet he that ob'erves \V~la~ !Ohmre, variety ot Tranll.tions of the Bible were III the lir1:, ... ges at the Church (as S,H,"'om obferves) and never a .one like another; will think tbat we Ihall differ as much 111 our ll_lterpretJlions ::5 thEY did, and char the ~ediom 15 zs unCWJII1 to us as it wis to thcm; and to it is; witnefle rhe grear nurnher of4t, Tranflarions and [be infinite number ofCommenrar~es,

' '. ~hKh

80

The Li6erty of Pyophe[ying.

'1X.!Jlnb. 7.

which are [00 pregnant an Argument that; wee neither a-. gree in the lInderJl~nding, of the words nor ofrhe fe1!!~' ,

The truth is. all chele wayes o, Interpreting ot SWpn:re which of thernlelves are good help" are made either by de[jon, or by our inlirmirrs. wayes'of intricating and involring S~riptures 'in greater diHict11ty, becaute men doe nor learn [heir doctrines from Scripture, but come to the ullJcr!~~Il.iing of Scripture with preconceptions and id,ea's of doctn~t'S ?f their OW11, and then no wonder that Scriptures look Iil«, PIBures, wherein every man in the roome_ believes tbey look on him only, and that wherefoever he Hands, or how olte-nuner he changes his il2!ion, So thar now whac was intended for a remedy, becomes the promoter of our difeale.' and nu', meat becomes the matter of Iicknelies : And the mifchiere IS, the wit of man cannot lind a remedy for it; for there is no rule, 110 limir, no certain principle, by which all men nIIy be guided co a certain and 10 infallible an Jnrerpreration , that he cau with ally equity pre.cribe to others to believe his Interpretations in places of controverly or ambiguity. A man would think [hat the memorable Prophely ofJilCob, that the Scepter fhonld not depart (rom JUd.lh till Jhi!oh come, [hould have been 10 clear a decermination of rhe time of the cM~ffiaf , that a jew Ihould never have doubted it to have been verified in Jeiils of JVa:umtb; and yet tor this to clear vat'cinarir.n , they have no Iefle chen c\Veney lix Anrwers. S, P,:u/ and S.J~I1J<I teem to ipeak a little diverfly concerning [ufiification by Faith and Works, and yet [0 my underHanding it is very eary [0 reconcile rhern . but all men are nor of my mind; for Ujiandrr in his confination of the book which /Wd.mch/o;, wrote againft him, oblerves, that there are twenty ieverall opini. ns concerning Iuftificacion, al! drawn from tile Scriptures, by the men only of the v:!fJgIJ{!Ill1 Conf ilion. There are fixreen teverall o~iniol1s concerning original! (inne , and as many definitions of rhe Sac:amenrs as there are Seas of men thar di.agree about them.

And now what help is entre for us in the midll: of there llDceminrics? If we follow any one Tranflation , or aCY,one mans Commentary, whac rule {hall we have to chule the rIght by?

T"~ Li"~rtJ sf prQphefJing.

Sf

by? or is there ~ny one man, that ~arh rranflated perfeCtly, or expounded infalhbly? No Traoflation challeages iuch a prerooatil'e as to be authentick, but the Vulgar Larine j and yet fee ~ith what geod fucceffe: For when it was declared authentick by the Councell of Trent , Si:t'tul put forth a Copy much mended of what it was, and tyed all men ,to follow rhar , b~t rhat did not fatisfie; for Pope C/cmellt reviews and corrects It in many places.and Hill the Decre~ rem~ines in a changed fub#t, And iecondly , that Trarflation Will be veryunapr to fatisfie in which one of their own men ljido~e C/drml a Monk of B;(f'i~, found and mended eight thoufand faults, berides innumerable others which he Iayes he pretermitted. And then thirdly, to 111ew how linle themfelves were fatisfied with it J divers learned men amongll: them did new tranflate t~e r:lbl~ , and thougbt they did, God and the Church good Iervice In It. Sothat if you take this for your precedent, you are fure [0 be mitlaken infinitely: 1£you rake any other, the Authors rhem[elves doe not promile you any lecurity. If you refolve to follow anyone as farre only as you lee caufe , then y?U only doe wrong or right by chanc;; for you hav~- cer,ta,lI:_Jty Jutt. proporuoaable to your own skill, to your ?wn ll1falhbllay. 1£ you reiolve to fo:Iow anyone, whether ioever he leads, we (hall ofientimes come thither, where we Iball fee our ielves become ridiculous, as it happened in the cal~ of SpirtdisII BiIhop of 9pYUi) wbo fo refolv'd to [01l0\V hIS old book, [h~t when an eloquent Bifi10P who was de/ired to Preach" read his Text TuaHttm toile robUe tNNf» & "",bul,,; Spmd"n was my ~ngry with him) becaufe in his book it was toile !,llN", IllIIm, and thought it arrogance in the preacher, to, fpeak berr~r Larine then his Tranflarour had done: And 1£ It be thus In Traoflarions , it is lime worfe in Expoficions , L~a feil. S"'pllIYam fl'YIlm pro tpfo fHi Illtitudme n~n 11110 eodem9J fenfo

,mnes accipilltit, ut pme qrtat homill~s tot i(lie !mttnt'~ crul pofo , _ 'IIideal1tur , laid VIIICt:lIt, Urinen(is] 111 whlc~ ever~ man knows ltI Cornrnonit, what innumerable wayes there arc: of being ml~akenJ God

having in things not limply necefiary left fu~h _a difficulty up.

on tbole parts of Scripture which are the lubJett matters or

conrroveny ad ~domdfJt'"m I,,6are j;,per6iam, & 'lltelletlum ,.

L fa/Ndie

The Lihertj ~f Prophefying.

fiiflidia revocandu1» (as S. AHftin gives a rea fan ) rhar all ro.t Lib.,.de <loch· erre bonerlly, are therefore to be piryed , and tolerated, beChri!l;i.!!l. c.o, caule it is or may be the condition of every man at one time or other.

The fumme is this: Since holy Scripture is the repofitory

of divine truths, and the great rule of Faith, to which alJ Sects of Chril1ial13 doe appeale for probation of their feverall opinions, ann (iuce all agree in the Arricles of the Creed as things clearly and plainly fer down, and as conraining all that which is of limple and prime neceffiry ; and (ince on the other fide there

are in Scripture many other myfleries , and matters of Q£ellion upon which there is a vaile; (ince there are fo many Copies with infinite varieties of reading; Iince a various Inrerpundion, a parenthefis, a letter, an accent may much alter the !enfe; (ince lome places have divers literal! fenfes, many have fpiritu:J1I, myHicall and Allegoricall meanings; !ince there are 10 many tropes, metonymies, ironies, hyperboles, proprieties and improprieties of language, \lVhofe underHanding depends upon lucn circumfiances that it is almoH imporlible to know its proper Interprerarion ; :now that the knowledge offuch circcmtiances aad parrrcular Hories is irrevocably loll: : fince there are feme mytieries which at the ben advantage of expreflion, are not ealy !o be apprehended, and whole explication, by reafon of our imperfections.mur! needs be dark, (omerimes weak fomctimes !l~inreIli~le; and lal1Iy, ~nce rhofe .ordinary meanes' of expoundJl1f!; Scnptur~ as fearcbmg the O:Jginalls, conference 01 places, panty of rearon, and analogy ofFarth, are all dubious, uocertain,.and very fal1ible, he that is the wildl: and by con.eqnence the l!kelye~ to expound trueti in all probability of rca.on will be very farre tro~ coafidence, bccaufe everyone. of there and rnai1~ more are like. fo many degrees of improbability and incerramty,.aIl deprelIi~g our certainty of finding out truth in liid] ~yaenes and amidf] (0 many difficulcies. And [/lcrd()r~ a wife man that confiders thi~, would not willing I.'! be prefc.ib'd ~o by others ; and therefore if he alto be a jua m .. n, he will nor impofe upon orbers j for it is belt every man fhould hi! Jd~ ill !1m liberty ti:~m which no man can juHly take him, ur;lcfle he could fecure him from .errour ; So that here allo there is a

'.. necc{f:ty

9.,. T_h_e_L_i/;_e_r_t_' _of_p_r....:op_h_~(j~il1....:~~. 8 3~

neceffity to conferve the liberty of Prophelying, and Inter.

preting Scripture; • necellity deriv'd from the comiderati-

on of the difficulty of Scripture in Q!!.eHions controverted,

and the uncertainty of any internall .medium • of Jnterpre-

ation,

SECT. V.

Oftbe i1lJufficiency and unmt4inty of Traditio,; to Expound Scrtpture, or determme !2!Jeflions.

IN the next place) ~e muli confider t~o.re extri~call meal_leg N,,",~. L of Jnrerpreriag Scripture. and determining O!!eLllOns , which

Ibey molt of all confide in that refiraine Prophe!yiog with the

grcatell Tyranny. The lirLl and prin~ipall is Tradirion, whieh

is pretended not only to expound Scripture (Nect'f{' enlm eff Vjn~cnr. Lil" proptet' tantos t4m vllr;; e,.rtr;t IftJ/raEfm, fit PrtJphmcd! 6' ~ - nNI: In_ Com poffo/ied! ;'lterpret4tiqnitliHea ft'",!l1dtmJ E ccleJi.1jl;ci I:jr Clftho/ici mo.uro: flnfo! normam dirigiltHr) bur allo to propou~d ArtIcles .upon a

diHin6l ll:ock ,[uch Articles whereof there IS no mennon and

propofirion in Scripture. And !n thi.s ropiek, nor only the di-

!tina Articles are clear and plain, like as the fundamentals of

Faith exprelfed in Scriptu;e, but a!fo it pretends to expound

Scripture, and [0 determine qy.elhons with 10 much c1aruy

and certainty, as there Ihall ,?~Ithe~ beerrour nor doubt re-

maining, and therefore 4"10 ditagreeing 15 here to be endured.

And indeed it is molt true if Tradition can performe rhefe

pretemions, and reach us plainly; and. allure us int~lJibly. of all

truths, which they require US [0 believe, we can 111 rhis cafe

have no reafon to disbelieve them. and therefore are certainly

Hereticks if we doe, becauie without a crime, w.rhour lome

humane inrerefl or collateral! defign, we cannotdisbelieve tra-

ditive Doctrine or rraditive Interpretation, if ir be infallibly

prov'd to us that tradition is an infallible guide. .

But here I lirlt confider that rradition is no repofitory of Nfl"". 1.

Articles of Faith, and rhe.erore the not following it is no

L :z Ar-

···i~-·· 1 he L iheTty Df P rophrfJing • C')'

'to _~~. ~.~~

-----Argumel1t of here!y ; for befides that I nave l'I~ew~d ScriptUre in it, plain exprefles to be an abundant rule of Faith and man. ners, Tradition is a topick a~ fallible as any otb.er j 10 fallible that it cannot be fufliClent evidence to any man 10 a matter of Faith or Qll.eHion of herefy.

Nmnb.). For I. I find that the Fathers were infinitely deceived in

their account and enumeration of Traditions, lomerimes they did call fome Traditions, fuch, not which they knew [Q be fo,but by Arguments and pretumptions they concluded them fo, Such

Epin, I 18, ~" as was .rhar of'S, A1Jftin,M Cju.t! uniflcrfo1iJ tmet cccle(ja nee a ('onIanrar, ciliif injhtut4 reperiHntNr, credibil« eft 411 Afoftoloy"rn tyad,tiolle De bapr.conrr. defc<ndiJJe. Now fuppofe this rule probable, that's the molt, yet DonH.lill,4· it is not cerraine j It might come by cuflome, whole Original! !:.~.-t' was not knowne, but yet could not derive from -an Apollolicall

principle. Now when they conclude of particular Traditions by a generall rule. and that general! rule not certain, but at the molt probable in anything. and certainly falfe in lome rhiags , it is wonder if the productions • that is, their judgements, and pretence faile fo often. And if I fhould bur inllance in all the particulars. in which Tradition was pretended falJ1y 01" uncertainly in the firit Ages, I Ihould multiply them to a rroubiefome variety j for it was then accounted fo glorious a tbing co have Ipoken with the perfons of the Apoilles, that if any man could with any colour pretend to. it, he might abufe the whole Church, and obtrude whar he lifted under the fpeeious tirle of Apoflolicall Tradition, and it is very notorious to every man that will but read rnd obterve the Recogairions or Ilromara of Clemen, ~le."t:.rndri"uI > where there isenougb of fuch falfe wares fhewed in every book, and pretended to be no lefle then from- the Apofiles. In the finl Age after the ApoHIes, P4pi.u pretended he received-a Tradition (rom the Apoltles, that Chrifl before the day ofJlIdgement {hou!d rdgn a thouland yeares upon Earth , and his Saints with bim in temporal] felicities; and this thing proceeding from 10 great an Authority as the teflirnony of PaptM,drew after it aJlormoHof the Chrittians in the firH three hundred years. For be fides, that the Millenary opinion is exprefly [aught by P~pi.u, JHjNn MA~tJr. JrellltHI, Origtn,Llfctll.lltiUI, SeverNf1 V,[lori/1l14, Apollinartr,

*POI,

§·5.

The Liberty of Prophejjing.

'N..'POf, and divers others famous in [heir time, Jujim UJ,{"",,, in his Dialogue illSainfl T>"Jpholl fayes, it was tne: bcliefe of all Chriftial1S exactly Orthodox, '!1 OJ' "li'H .... ; Xl' 'I1Ii,.,.. ip:}o"}rd/AO" '·i~ Xp/SlII.V<I, and yet there was DO tuch Tradition, but a millake in l'ilpiM j but I find it nowhere rpoke agairfi, till Dl0"ljr,·HI of AleXANdria confined Nep§'s Book, and converted Corecto» the l'g.1ptilln from the opinion. Now if a Tradition whore begin. ning of being called 10 began IV ith a Scholar of the ApollJes (for [0 was Papial) and then continued for fome Ages upon the meer Authority of 10 famous a man,did yet deceive the Church: much more fallible is the pretence, when two or three hundred years afier, it but commences, and then by fome learned man is firll: called a Tradition ApoHolicall. And fo it hapned in the cafe of [he Arrilln berefy, which the 'J.(j_cene Fathers did confute

by obje~ing a contrary Tradition ApoHolicall, as Theodore: re- Lib.I.hifi. c.8. ports; and yet if they had not had beuer Arguments fiom Scrip-

ture then from Tradition.they would have Iaild much in 10 good

a caufe ; for this very pretence the viTTi"n! themielves made,

and defired to be tryed by the Fathers of the firfl three hundred

years, which was a confutation fufficient to them who preren- V;,;e l'mv.;"" ded a clear Tradition> becaufe it was unimaginable that the ~pji,h.her. 69. Tradition fh~uld leap 10 as not .[0 come from the .firfi to t~e • >b '}"dp hoi Jail by the middle. But that this tryall was fome.ime decli, ';;1""' ;:; ~;MI ned by that excellent man S. tAthllnaji'!" although at other ihl)Or ft.W ~ urnes confidently and [ruly pretended, It was an Argument lil-',7ip' )'im the Tradition was not [0 > clear, but both fides might with ~~h.')orM" fome fairneffe pretend to it. And therefore one of the prime d.u1;v xp.;iv Founders of their herefy, the Heretick t .A.rwnon having ob- ~, .1,3pOJ<W" ferved the advantage might be taken by any SeCt that Would ., ~ Ii ~.'_ pretend Tradition. becaute the medium WJS plaufible and con_:J ;,.; .. ~Il· fr: . hat i . d b d d 'ZI4IV ,,"/-,Iro, Ilnmg 0 ,0 many paniculars, t at It was bar to e re argue , <t·"'01"IV'I-"V9J,

pretended a Tradition from the Apoflles , that ChrW: was Zi; " uwniB,. {IA9- dv3pIl!"7I"9-. and that the Tradition did defcend by a p."J~ -/Ie <1.9 conl!al1t fuccellion in the Church of Rome to Pope Vlaaraime <r"'''O{ """:

. I (. d . h h d i d r 1". d 7<1. 1'-" J·o~,,' Inc U Ively, an till Zr:p er;nll4 a mterrupte tne ieries an cor. "" ~o, .. ,

d h .0. • hi h . .. h did r: VI· 1"01.',

rupre me Doctrine ; w rc pretence It It a not ra lome I uJ1in M,n.

appearance of truth, [0 as pollibly to abufe the Church. had dial ad fryph. tlOt been wonh), of confutation, which yet W3i with care un- Iud.,

.. . - -. L 3 denaken 1 cult,l.r.c.uk,.

~.~,----,'.,----------:-~----

The Liberty of prophefJing. Q. 5,

C;!n.~.

:"f. de b:1[riftu, C(JIHr. Donaz.c. =3~

dertaken by an old Writer, out ?f whom EI'lfibiHS rranfcribe, a large paflage to reprove the vanity of the pretender. Bur Job. ferve from11ence, that it was uliiall to pretend to Tradition,and that it was cafier pretended [hen confined, and I doubt not but oftner done then ditcovered. A great Qg_eJEon arofe in ~fric~ concerning [he Bapcilin of Hereticks , whether it were valid or no. S. CJprinn and his parry appealed to Scripture; Suphen Bifhop of HOlm and hi, parry, would be judged by cuHome and Tradition Ecclefiaflicall, See how much the nearer the Qsel!ion was to a determination, either tha r probation was nor accounted by S.(jpritl)J, and [he Bifhops both of ~fl;z and ~1fric~, to be a good Argument, and Iuflicient to determine them , or there was no certain Tradition againH them; (or unletle one of shete cwo doe it, nothieg could excute them from oppofing a known truth, anlefle peradventure, S.CypriAn, Firmilia», the Bifhops of Gil{atilf, Cllppadocill, and alrnoH two parts of the World were ignorant of fuch a Tradition. for they knew of none (uch, and lome of them exprefly dcnyed it, And the fixth general! Synod approves of the Canon made in the t ouncell of ( .. rthllge under Cyprian upon this "ery groend, becaule ill pr,edm.rum fY"'fo1um /ods & folum fi,m,d,m) trdditam eiJ cOlfuetlldinem j<rvllws eft; they had 2 particular Tradition lor Rebaptization , and therefore there could be no Tradition tlnivertall againfl: it, or if there were they knew nor of ir , but much for the contrary; and then it would be remcmbrcd that a ccnceal'd Tradition was like a {i. lent Thunder,or a Law not promulgated; it neither was known, nor was obligatOry. And I [hall obferve this 100, that this very Tradition was 10 obfcurc, and was Io obfcurely delivered, tilently proclaimed, that S. c,j Ill/in 1'1' bo difputcd againH the DO;)IItljls upcn this very Qg_eflion was not able co prove it, bur by a confequcnce which he tbought probale and credible, as appears in his difcourfe againii the Don",ij'lr. The Ap~fll:s, faith S. :/;"fi;l1, prcfcrib'd II.thll'lg in thil ptlrticular: Bm tbis cufl.",e which U c.l1Ir~rJ to (;pria>1 .,,!,hr to 6e velieved to hrve come from tl'eir Trnduio», tit '''''''y .,ber thingl which the {athof/e . Cburcb olferves. That'S all the ground and all the reaion, nay the Church did waver concerning that Q!;_eaionJ~md before the

deciiio!1

The Li/;my ofProphefying.

deci{ion ofa COllncel!, Cyprian and others mishr ditlcnr with.

~u[ ~reach of charity. J t was plain then [here w~s 110 clear Tradi- L:b r. d," bop_ [Jan 111 the <l!!.e!lion, pollibly there might be a cufiome in lome t.,m.<.la. Church~s popn"te to the times of the 11 pomes bur nothinz rhar

was oblrg~tory, no Tradition Apoflolicall, But 'this was a lii'pple.

tory deVIce ready at hand when ever they needed it; and D,:rccc" cr is, Ai'4jtmconfuted the Pel,;.g;'ms" in [he Q)!_eHion ~.lf OriginaJl g'n:,].I"'~:l;. Enne , ~y ~~e cuflome of exorciljne and infufllarion , which ~. ",'" 1:dO,;_ S,du,rmfald c~me from t!le Apotiles by Tradition, which yet ",C".c,:,

was the.?, and IS now (0 Impoffible to be prov'd, that Lle that

Ihall affirm rr , Ihall game only [he repuration of a bold m311

and a confident.

, 2. ~ con(ider if the report of Traditions in the Primitive Nfl/Itt" ~; thmes 0 ne~re the Ages ApoHolicaI! was (0 uncerrain , thar

t ey were fain to aym at [hem by conjettures and grope as in

the dark, the uncerrai~ty is much encrealed iit~ce. bec3ule there

are many fa~ous Writers whOle works are loll which}'C! if

the~ bad conrlllued , they might have been ooocl'record$ to us

as Ct(me~~ Rom4n;u. Ege/ippm ~ Nepol, t'oracioll , <]);ol1/1i,,;

Areopaglt., of Alexllndr.a,of Cormth, F;i'miliiln andminy more:

And Jinee we fee pretences have been made without reaion i ~ thofe Ages IVh~re. they might better have been confuted; rhe~ now they can, It IS greater prudence [0 !u(petl: any later pre. rences, nnce (0 ~al1y Seas have been, [0 many wanes, fa ~any corrup[Io~S III Authors, (0 !TI1ny Authors lott, 10 much ;~~orahce hath Inten'en~d, al1~ [0 many interetls have been Ie,'.

',[ at 1l0~ the rule IS to oe altered; and whereas it was of O~d time credible. chat thar was Apofiolical! whole beeinninr:h? knew nor, n~~v quit,e contrary we cannot 0fel/,belie\'~ ~n to be A.pol1o.]cal! un'etle we doe know their beeinninsbOb,av~ been trol~ [he Apofllee, For this confifling ~f pro~ d: limes a~d particulars, which put together make up a rnorail

mO,nflracron > the Argument which I now urce hath been

OlOlVlIlg thefe fifte 1-. d . d if ," C

t en nun rea years, an I anciently there wa.

,0 ~uch as to evacuate the Authority ofTradirion much more"

lS tLlere be I . ,

hi ,- .now a <0 nrely to deftroy 1[, when all the particulars

IV lei] orne ad' fi ' . f h . '

ffi 11 In nne Vdctecy 0 umme accidents have been

,rna IDg [Qg~t~er, axe now ccecentred , and are united "by

way

... . I

l·:\ll. 19_ {IC

If"r. SlilO:Oc

'l'{fimb. G.

Contra ] .. L1r ..

,".;('n.

88

The Lib"t) of Prophejjing. §.;.

____ ---'--..:._

way of conHipation. Becaufe every Age a.t1'd every great chanae and every berefy, and every interefl .harh increaied the difficulty'

of finding out true Traditions, '

3. There are very many Traditions which are lofl , and yet [hey are concerning matters ,:,f a, great confequence as moti of thole ~efiions for the determination whereof Traditions are pretended: It is more then probable, that as in Baptifm and [be EuchariH the very formes oi miniftration are rranfinirted to us, to alfo in confirmation and ordination, and [bat [here ~vere Ipeci~ll dire~ions f~r .vilira[ion of the lick, and explicite interpreranons or thole difficult places of S. P.lUi which S. Ps; ter affirmed [0 be fo difficult that the ignorant doe wrefl them to their own damnation, and yet no Church hath conferved rhefe or [hoti: many more which S.B"fl affirms to be [0 many that 6m/l':-!-1I ,:t<optt 7" "]~d.~d, .f e.r.~;H""t~ p.v~{,put. J'm"Jf"I"'; the day would f.iJe him in rhe very limple enumeration of all Traditions Ecdetiafiicall, And if rhe Church hath fail'd in keeping the great variety of Traditions, it will hardly be t~ol!ght a faulr in a .private perfon to negleCt Tradition, \'Vhich either the whole Church hath very much neglected inculpably, or el!e the whole Church is very much too blame. And who can afcerrain us that Ihe hath not entertained tome which are no Traditio", as well as loll: thouiands that are? That fhe did entertain lome fai(e Traditions, I have already p.ov-d, but it ii alto as probable that fame of rhofe which there Ages did pro. pound tor Traditions, are not [0, as it is certain that lome which rhe firH Ages cald Traditions, were nothing leflC-.

4. There are rome opinions which when they began to be pllbji~(ely received , began to be accounted prime Traditions, and to became luch not by a native title, but by adoption; and nothing is more ufuall then for the F arhers to colour their popular ~pin.ion w,ith (0 great an appellative. S. A~jfjH cald the COmm1ll11Catmg or Infants an ApoHolicali Trad.rion , and yet we doe not praCtiCe ir, becaufe we disbelieve the Allegation. And chat every cuHome which at firil introduction was but a private fancy or lingular practife, grew afierwards into a publike rite' and went for a Tradition after a while continuance, appears by TertHllhm who teems [Q juftifie it, No,~ mim e,'t:ijfitlW I~

licllllm

Q.5. The Liberty of rrophefJing.

--------------- ----------~

lieilUI» fife cHicuni,jiddi conlimer, quod 'De» plMere illi vi/11m De eorup; Ilitrit, ad IJ'ifeiplinam & [<11f/tem. And againe, .A qua&lIni, rnilir .c, jo&4. tradllore cenf<tn7, nrc allthorem t'eJPiciM fld amhoritatun. And A I E( b S.Hterome moil plainly, 'Precept« maJorum e.;IIpoJlolica1 Tr"di- !.r.~.'l'1~lj, . ones qn1'h Ixi!1imllt. And when Ir6>1d;UI had obferved that great

variety in [he keeping of Lent, which yet to be a fourry dayes

Fait is pretended to detcend from Tradition Apoliolicall , [orne

falling but one day before Eafler, lome two, lome fourry , and

this even long before lr(ntern time, he gives this realon, r"YielM

i/", j:jl'.nti ClEfit apt:d c.Majores tloftro1 qui tlOIf accurate con[ne-

tlldmem eOYHm "lui vel jimplicitllrc quad"m veL privlltit authoriG

we in pofierum aliquld (iatHI./fent, ob{.rvarant [ex trllHjl.ltionl! Chri(19phorfoni :] And there are yet lome points of good con-

ceremenr, which ifany man Ihould Qlli;H:ion in a high manner,

tbey would prove indeterminable by Scripture, or lu!ncicnt rea-

fon, and yet I doubc DOt their confident Defenders would lay

they are opinions of the Church, and quickly pretend a Tra-

dition (rom the very ApoltJes,and believe rhemlelves [0 Iecure

that they could not be difcovered, becaufe the ~fiion never

having been ditpured, gives them occation to lay that which

had no beginning known, was certainly from the ApoHles. For

why Ihould not Divines doe in the Q!!.eHion of reconfirmation

a. in that of rebaprization ? Are not the grounds equal! from

an indelible character in one as in the ocher? and if ic hap-

pen Iiich a Q!:..eftion as this after conretiarion Ihould be deter-

min'd not by any politive decree, bur by the ceffion of one

part, and the aurhority and reputation of the other, does not

the next Age Hand taire to be abuted with a pretence of

Tradition, in the matter of reconfirmation, which never yet

came to a Ierious Ql.1_eHion,? For [0 it was in the ~(1ion of

rebaprizari..n for which there was then no mo:e evident Tradi-

tion then rt.erc is now in the O,£eHion of reconfirmation , I!~

I proved torrnerly, but yet ii was carried upon that Title.

~. There is great variety in the probation of Tradition, [0 Nlllnb. '7. that whatever is proved to be Tradiricn , is not equally and

alike credible, 10;' n'")ti;ing but univenail Tradirion is of it {elfe

credible; other Tradi.icns in .heir Jult proportion as they par-

take of the degrees 01 lin, vcr.a'iry. Now rhat a Tradition be

M univcrlall,

, i

L,».c. 39' Oml1cs·Scaio. E:¢3 tcH:UitW' qui in t\ {l.l ap~td lO~1:lnnUl1 Di!CipLllll'1 Dorni ni cc nvcierunt ill ip[ll.ll [rod,· dill;' ci- 10. h:lnncnl)&c & 1..1t1i alios Ap·.)~ flolos videruuc hre c cadc.o ab ipfis nudierunt, &. r et\:an tur de ej"'nlodi relatione.

SaII1H·Nn. d·'!I,ut.jl, in l\OIll.

The Liberty of PropbefJing. (')'

:----~---

univerfall , or which is all one that it be a credible Tetiimony,

S. Irsneus reg uires that Tradition Iliould derive from all the Churches Apoil:olical!. And therefore according to this rule there was no (uAiciem medium [0 determine the ~eHion about Earler , becaufe the Ealiern and Weflern Churches had feverall Traditions refpeclivcly , and both pretended from the ApoHles. Clemens v'11e.~wld,·i~UJ jayes, it was a Iecret Tradition from the ApoHIes that Chrifl preached but one year: But Irenei« (ayes it did derive from Hereticks , and fayes that he by Tradition lirH from S. Jofm, and then from his Dilciples received another Tradition, that Chrilt was alrnoli fifty years old when he dyed,and 10 by conlequence preached almofl twenty years; both of them were deceived, and 10 had all that had belie. ved rhe report of either pretending Tradition Apotlolicall, Thus the cudome in the Larine Church of tatting on Saturday was ngainH that Tradition which the Greeks had from the Ap:,[lles; and therefore by this divifion and want of'confent, Which was the true Tradition was 10 abiolutely indeterminable, that borh muft need. lore much of their reputation, Bur bow then when not only particular Churches but fingle perter» are all the proofe we have for a Tradition? And this Often aaoned , I think S.Auflit! is the chiefe Argument an] Authorit. \'i~have for the Affumption ofehe Virgin r...M<lr)'; t11" Bapurn cfInfants is called a Tradition by Origw alone a! fira , "",.1 .rorn him by others, The procetlicn ot the ho'y Ghoic lrom the S,onne, which is an Article the Greek Church dilavowes, defives from the Tradition Apoflolicall , as it is prerend-d ; and yetbefore S. v'1!fJli/l we hcare nothing of it very c1eerly or :.:ertaInly,. for as n:ucb as that whole myflery cOll.:erni:1g the blefled Spirit was 10 little explicated in Scriprure , and to lude derived to them by Tradition, tim [ill the Councell of Nice, you thaI! hardly find any form of worihip or perlona.l a.ldrefle of devotion to ~he holy Sp:rit,<l. ErafmuobCcrves, and i think the. cOl1[r~ry IV.lll very hardly be verified. And for uris parricu!ar 111 ,WhlCh I tn~allce, wharfover is in Scripture conceming ir, 15 againt] that which the Church of Rome calls .radicion , waich makes the Greeks Io confident as they are of tile point, HOl IS an Arlj;ument.of the vaniry of fomethings which for no

greater

~.5. The Lihmyof Propbefjing.

gr~~~ realon are c~lkd Tr~ditions. but b'-e-c-au-rc-e-o-n-e-m-a-n-h-at-h laid to.and that they can be proved by no better Argumenr to be nne. Now in this care wherein Tradition defcend, upon us with unequall certain.lY_, it would be very unequal! to require or L1S <Ill abrolure beliefe of every thing not written, for Ieare we be accoun.ed to flight Tradition Apollolicall. And fince no thing can require ~ur . iuprerne af~e~t, but t~~[ which is. truly Calhol1ke aud Apoflolike, and to lucn a Tradition lS reouir'd as irc>:<"t1J 1:'),0, the content of all rhofe Churches which tI~e ApoflIes planted. and where they did prefide, this ropick will be of 10 lirtle ule in judging herefies that (betides what is depofired in Scriprure ) it cannot be proved in allY thing but in the Canon of Scripture it [elfe, and as it is now received, even in that there is feme variety.

And therefore there is wholy a millake in this bufineffe , for when the Fathers appeal to Tradition, and with much earnetlneile , and feme clamour they call upon Herericks rocontoim to or.~ be rryed by Traditicn, it is iuch a Tradition as delivers the fundamentall POlntS of ChriHianity, which were alro recorded in Scripture. B ut becauie the Canon was not yet per~eCt1y c011fignd, they call'd to t~~t teHimonr they had, which was the tefiimony of the Churches Apofl:olIcall, whole Bitheps and Priefis being the .Ami/liw religion;I, did believe a_nd preach, Chriflian Religion and conserve all its great myfieries according as they had been taught. Irenee: calls this a Tra, dirion ApoHolicall, ChrifluM dccepi./!e cl'llicem , 0' di~'rffi fo1;~ guinem fuum eJJe, & d~cuifJe Kovam oulatlman »ou! Tejla. mentl, qUIl1» €cc!ejia per cApoflolos accipims offert per totllm ml",dfJm. ADd the Fathers in rheie Ages confine Herericks by Ecclefiafiicall Tradition, that is , they confront againH their impious and blafpemous doctrines that Religion which the ApeIlles having raughr to the Churches where they did prefide , their Succetlors did Hill preach, and for a long while together fLitrered not the enemy to fow tares amongit their wheat. A~d yet rhefe doctrines which they called Traditions, were notblDg but luea fundament all truths which were in Scripture, ",01,,,, ""/4"VCl. Ta'il. '){"~"'I, as /ren.tflJ in E'ufohiul oblerver , 'ill (he imlance of P,l]cllrpul, and it is manifefr by confideriog

M:z what

Nllli.b. S,

i

, I

Vid IrenX'.· J.) &: ii.CUll[ :,:J::;Cr,

~"----'--The Liberty 6f Propbtfying.

what herefies they fought againfl , the heretics of Ebio1J, Cs; r.mbur, NicolaitllHI, VII/mtl11iRN!. C"rpocrlltianJ. perfons Iha, denyed the == of God , th~ Unity of the God·l~ead, tbat preached impuriry , rhar praclifed Sorcery and WHch-crafr. And now that they did rather urge Tradition againll: them then Scripture, was, becauie the publike Doctrine of all the A. poflolicall Churches was at fir{! more known and famous then manv pam of the Scripture, and becaufe fome Hereticks denyeri S.L~~es Gofpel. fome received none but S. AfatthtwI, {orne reo jeded all S.Pllult Epiflles.and it was a long time before the whole Canon was confignd by univerfill Tetiimony , fome Churches bavil1g one part lome anothcr , Rome her felre had nor all, 10 [hat in this caie the Argument from Tradition was the molt f~mous, rhe molt certain, and the mofl prudent. And now according to [his rule they bad m-ire Traditions then we have, and Traditions did by degrees lell~n as they came to be writ. ten, and their necefliry was lefle , as the knowledge of them was afcerained to us by a berrer Keeper of Divine TrU[~. All that great mytlerioufhefle of Chritis Priefi-hood , the unity of his Sacrifice, Chritls Advocation and Inrerceffion for us in Heaven, and many other excellent Doctrines might \'ery well be accounted Traditions before S. Pault Epiftle to the Hs- 6mvnvas publifh'd to all the World; but now they are written truths; and if they had not, poffibJy we might either have 10ft them quite, or doubted of them as we doe of many other Traditions, by realon of the iniufficiency of the propounder. And therefore it was that S.Pettr took order that the Cofpel [hould be Writ, lor he had promifed that he would doe lomething which after his deceafe 1110uld have rhete rhings in remembrance. He knew it was !JOt fafe trulling the report of men where the fountain might quickly run dry, or be corrupted 10 infenlibly , that no cure could be found for it, nor any juH notice taken of it rill it were incurable. And indeed [here is icarce any thing but what is written in Scripture, tbat can with any confidence of Argument pretend to derive from zhe Apoflles , except ritualis , and manners of miniliration r Out no doctrines or rpeculative myHeries are (0 rran.miued to us by 10 deer a current, [hat we may fee a vilibJe channell,

and

rh, LihrtJ of Prophlf1ing. '3

and trace it to the Primitive founraines, It is faid to be a ----Tradition Apofiolicall, that no Priefl fhould baptize without

chrifin and the command of the Bil1lOp : Suppote it were. yet

we cannot be oblig'd [0 believe it with much confidence,

becaate we have but lirrle proofe for it, fcarce any thingbut the

fingle teHimony of S. Hieram. And yet if it were, this is but Dialog. aJv. a riruall, of which in paning by, I (hall give that account: That, Luciler, fuppole this and many more ritualls did derive clearly from

Tradirion ApoHolicall (which yet but very few doe) yet it is

hard that any Church fhould be charged with crime for not ob-

ferving fuch rirualls, becaufe we fee (orne of [hem which cer-

tainly did derive from the Apo{!les, are expird and gone out

in a deluetude ; fuch as are abHinence from blood, and from

things flrangted , [he ccenobitick life of fecular perions , the

COlledge of widowes, to worfhip Handing upon the Lords day J

[@ give milk and hom:y to the newly baptized, and many more

of the like nature; now there having been no mark to dil1ingtiilh

rhe neceilhy of one from the indiflerency of the other, they are all

alike neceflary, or alike indifferent; ir'the former, why does no

Church obferve them? if the later.why does the Church of Rome

charge upon others the fhame of novelty, (or leaving of fome

Rites and Ceremonies which by her own practice we arc

taugbt to have no obligation in them, but to be adiaphorous "

s. Pau[ gave order. that a Bifhop 1110uld be the husband of

one wife; The Church of Rome w ill not allow (0 much; other

Churches allow more: The Apollles commarded Chriliians ro

Falt on Wednefday and Friday, as appeares in their Canons;

The Church of Rome Palis Friday and Saturday, and not on

Wednefday, The ApolUes had their Agapa': or love FeaHs, we

Ihould believe them Icandaloas : They uied a kilfe of charity in

ordinary addretfes , [he Church of R.m~ keeps it only in their

Mane, other Churches quire omit it: The ApoHles permitted

Prietls and Deacons to live in conjugal! Society as appears in

the ).ean. of the ApoHles (which to them is an Argument

who believe them -uch ) and yet the Church of Rome, b~ no

memes will endure it; nay more, t.Mu:hllei Mediru. glve~

Teltimony that of 84 Canons A~oHoJicall w1licn (tement col- ~~~~;;,;~0Il1. !e~ed, Icarce fix or eight are obferved by the Larine Church, Ii 5,C.11I,.

- M~, and

94

The Liberty of Prophefying.

------:-an=-:d"PerejiHf gives this acc~f~lniIlM cont;;',,; tHlllta ql~~ temporum c,rYllpliolfe ItO" plme o/;foTvamur, aliis pro temporit & msteri« 9"./irat. "IJt .Miuratis J aut tOtlllt Eccleftg magiffuio a6r.g4tiJ. Now it were good that they which take a liberty to rhernrelves, (hou'd alfo allow the fame to ochers. So thac for one thing or other, all Tradirions excepting rhofe very felY

rhar are abiolurely univcrtall , will lofe all their obligation, and become 110 competent medium to confine mens pra.:tiies, or limit their faiths, or determine their pertivaiions, Either for the difliculry of their being provd , the incompetency of the teltimony thar rranlmirs them, or rhe indifl:erency of the thino rrantinirted, aU Traditions both riruall and doctrinal! are di[~

abled front determining our conieiences either to a necelrary believing or obeying.

6. To which I adde by way of confirmation, that there are

Jome things called Traditions, and are offered ro be proved to liS by a Tellimony, which is either falte or not extant. ct,. mens of AI" ... ,,,dria pretended it a Tradition that the ApcIlles preached to chern that dyed in infidelity, even afcer their death and then rail~d them to lire, bur he pr~lVed it only by th~ Tellimony at the Book of H:rmn ; he affirmed ir ro be a Tradition Apoliolicall , that the Greekswcre raved by their Philolophy, bur he had no other Authority tor it bur the Apocryphall Books of Peler and P,."I. 7 ertul/ian and S.Ba(i1 pretend l[ an Apoflolicall Tradition, to iign in the aire with the hen of the Croile, but this was only conJign'd to rhem in the G~. fpel of Nie,d,rmll. But to inllance once for all in rhe Epillie of 01~rcd/"J to the Bifhop of Antioch, where he affirrnes tim It IS the Canon of the Apoitles, preter [cIJttJJti<ll1J Rom.m; 'Pamifi,clJ, non foffi ('oneili" c,I,6rllfi. And yet there is no ruch Canon extanr , nor ever was for oughr appears in any Record we hav~; and yet the Colleclicn of the Canons is to intire, that tho~gh It hath ~omethin8 more then whar was Apo(lolicall, yet It hath nothIng lefle, And now tim I am cafiially tall~n upon an inltance from the Canons of the A potlles , I con. rider that there cannot Il1 the world a oreater inrlance be eiven how eaty jr is ro be abuied in the "believing of Tradi~ons. For I. to the firl! 50. wbich many did admit for ApollQlicall,!s

more

De Tlo,Jir. pnrr.t.c. de Aut!\f;r.C:lIl. IIpAl.

The Liberty of Propbe/jT;;g-. ---

more were added, which moll: men now COl1m fpurious, ail men call dubious, and fome of them univerfally condemned by peremptory fenrence, even by them who are grearetl admirers or' that Collection, as 65. 67. and 8-~ Can am. For the firlt <;0, it is evident that there are fame things fo mixt with [hem, and no mark of difference left, that the credit of

all is much impared , infomueh that ljidor of S,vill fayes, th" A"uJ Gratian, were Afocryphall, made bJ Hemick;, .tnd pltbfifhed u~d.r tl'e .iil.l6. c.L'~ till, At0fto/ical!, but neither the Fatherr nor tbe Church of n incs.

Romedidgiv, a/Ttnt to them. And yet they have prevail'd fo Lib .

farre amongl! fome, that 'lJ~mafc'" is of opinion tbey 1110uid ~,;i:'~ ~ ~ .. de be received equally with the Canonicallwritings of the Apo- .. 0 ."" flies. One thing only I obferve (and we Ihall find it true in

molt writings, whore Authority is urged in Q£.eHions ofTh.o-

laxy) that tile Authority of the Tradition is not it which

moves the affent , but the nature of the thing; and becaufe

filch a Canon is delivered. they doe not therefore believe the

Janel ion or proporirion fo delivered, but di-believe the Traditi-

on, if they doe not like the matter, and to doe nor judge at

the matter by the Tradition, but of the Tradition by the mat-

ter. And thus the Church of Rom. rejeCls the 84 or 8) Canon of

the Apofiles, not becanfe it is delivered with lefle Authority,

then the lafl 3, are. but becaufe ir reckons the Canon of

Scripture orhcrwi.e then it is at Rom», Thus alfo the ,filCh Canon

among(! the firH 50, becaufe ir approves the marriage of Prietls

and Deacons docs not periwade them to approve of it too, but

it (elfe becomes (u{peCted for app,.)ving it: So that either they

accule rhemfelves orpalpable comempr of the Apollolicall Au-

rhoriry , or elte that the reputation of Jl:eh Traditicns is kept

llP to ferve their OWIl ends, and therefore when they encounter

them, they are more to be up'ield , which what elfe is it but

to teach aJl the world to contemn fuch pretences and under-

value Traditions, and to fllpply to others a reatcn why they

{hnuld doe rhar, which to them that give the occation is molt

unrea(onable ?

7· The TeHimony of the Ancient Church being the only 7'l.!m;/;. r:>, meanes of proving Tradition, and Iometimes their dictates and

doClrine bei.ng the Tradition pretended of necelli ty to be

imitated,

95

96

·ViJ.Cor.!. p(;It'(;ll.lcnrc au Sieur Calaubon,

The Liler!) of prophef1ing.

imitated, it is confiderable that men in their eHimate ofir • take their rile from ieverall Ages and diiferil1g Tellimonies, and are not agreed about the ccmpetercy of their TeHimony; and the reafons rhar on each £ice make them difFer, are fueh as make the Authority it {elre the lelfe authenrick and more repudiable. Some w ill allow only of the three lirit Ages, as being mot] pure, moll: penecured.and therefore moll holy ,leaH interetled .ferving fewer detigns, having fewet] faCtions, and therefore more likelv to Jreak the truth for Gods Jake and its own, as bell: compiyillg with their grear end of acquiring Heaven in recompence of lo~ng their lives: Others: lay. that t~ofe Ages being perfecuted minded the prefent Doctrines proportionable to their purpo'es and _ conHitL~tion of. the Ages! and make little or nothing of thote Q_gd-lt0115 which at this day "ex C hritlendome : And both {peak true: The firlt Ages tpeak grearetl truth, but Ieal~ pertinently. The next Ages, rhe Ages of the foure genera]] Councels ipake tomerning, not much more pertinently to the prcfenr ~Hions, bur were not fo likely to tpeak true, by rcaion of their dirpofirions contrary [0 the capacity and circumtiance of the firlt Ages; and if they fpeak wifely as Doctors, XCt not certainly as witnetles of fuch propofitions which [he IIrfl: Ages noted not; and yet unlelfe they had noted could not poffibly be Traditions. And therefore either Ot them will be Idle ulelefle as to our prcfent affaires. For indeed the Q1!.e· Hions which now are the publike trouble. were nor confidered or th?~gbt upon. for many hundred years, and therefore prime T radition there IS none as to Our purpoie , and it w ill be an infufficient medium to be uied or pretended in the determina. d.on; a~d to di!put~ concerning the truth or necdiity of ~ra. d!tlons, In the Q!:dllOn5 of out times. is as if Hiiiorians difputlllg a~cut a ~eHion in the Englilh Story, Ihould fallon wrar gling whether L,vle or Plutarch were the bell Writers:

And the earnefi difputes about" Traditions are to no better pur: pole. For no Church at this day admits the one halfe of rhote things, which certainly by the Fathers were called Traditio!! Apollolicall, and no Tcrlimony of ancient Writers dees ccnCgn the one haltc of the pretenr O!!_efiions, to be or not to be Tr.diricns, So that rheywhoadmit only the Dodrineand TdLmocy_

et

~ T_h_e_L~i_6e~r.t_)_if~r~~~fl._~~_1_m_~_. 97

of the fitH: Ages cannot be determined in molt of their doubt s

which now trouble us , becaufe their Writings are of matters

wholy differing from the pretent dilpures, and they which would

bring in after Ages to the Authority of a competent judge 0:

witnetie, lay the lame thing; for they plainly conteffe [10.( the

fir Ii Ages tpake little or nothing to the prefent Q!!..e!lion, O!:

at leal] nothing to their- [ente of them; for therefore I hey call ill

. aid from the following Ages, and make them tuppletcry and auxiliary [0 their defigns, and therefore there are 110 Tradition: co our purpotes. And they who would wiliitlgiy have it otherwife, yee have taken no courie it fhould be orherwife ; fe,t they when they had opportunity in the Coi.ncels of the Joa /,geL to determine what they had a mind to, yer they never nam'd the number, ncr exprefled rhe particular Traditions which th':: would taine have the world believe to he Apcflolicatl. Dut rhey hare kept the bridle 111 their own hands, and made a refervc of their own power , that if need be, they may make tn-, prcrcnficns , or not be put to it to jllHific the old by t~;e engagement of a conciliary declaration.

. La~lly, We are acquitted by rhe TeHiI?on~ of the Primi-. N:.IiJ[..lii.

ave Fathers, from any other neceffity ot believing , then ot .

fuciJ Articles as are recorded in Scripture: And this IS done by

them, whole Authority is pretended [be greatefl: Argument for

Tr~dilioll, ~s 5lepears la!gely in lrcil£~s, who .dilputes profdfed- L).:,:. :OlJ,' , ly for the iufliciency of Scnpture agalllll: certain Herericks , who h,Crl r.·

allirm lome neceffary truths not to be written, Ir was an excel-

lent laying of S.Bajil and will never be wipe out with ail [be

e.oquence of Perron [in his Serm, de fide. 011:4ni!ejftfd e/l fidei

lalftIJ, & l''lwidtim f'perbi., vltillW uel rdPllfr/! aliqUId (ort<m

qn;; Scripter« h'lba, vel itJdflcere quic'l'J. m quod [Cri;t»M 1:01:

(ft.] And it is but a poore device to lilY that every particular

Tradition is con(igned in Scripture by thole places which give

f.mhority to Tradition; and 10 the imroducing of Tradition is

not a !i.lper·jnducing any thing over or bcfides Scripture.becaufe

Tradition is like a MeHenger,and [he Scripture is like his Let-

ters of Credence, and therefore Authorizes whatfoever Tradi.

rion Ipeaketh. Fer fuppoflng Scripture does coniign the Autho-

rity o:' Tradition ( which it migbt doe before all [he whole

N Iallrument

"--9-8 --~"--"-"-----'-'[h:-e-L-t:-;-'be-r-tJ-o-;;f-:-P-ro-'Ph;-e--;:fj-:-if.-~g-.----(:--.-;.

-----.~---~ . ~- -- .-~--~-----------.--

Inllruruent of Scripture it (dfwas conlign'd ,and then afcerwards there miehr be 110 need of Tradition) yet fuppofing it, it will follow d~at all thole Traditions which are truly prime and ApoHolicall, are to .be ~ntercai.n·d according to_~he, i~[entioo of the Deliverers, which indeed Isla realonableof it ielre, thar we need not Script me to pertwade us to it j it {dfe is aut!~el1!ick as Scripture is, ific derives from _the iame fountain j .and a word is never the more the Word or God tor being wntten , nor the letle tor not being wrirren , but it will not follow lh~,t

wharloever is pretended tc· be Tradition. is fa, neither is the c.edic or" the particular inflances conj~gl1'd in Scripture j G" dol'ful ver/'lIJr lit ~,<<ntr'Il.tU'-, but that this craft is too palpable. And if a gen~rail and indefinite confisnation of Tradition be ful11cienr we warrant el'ery p"' ricuiar that pretends [0 be Tradition.then ~.Ba(Jl had Jpoken to no purpofe by laying it is Pride & Apol1afy from the Faith,toDring in what is nOI wrinen. For if either any man brings in what is written or what he fayes is delivered, then the litH being exprefle Scripture, and [he fecond being confign'dia Scripture.no man can be charged with fuperincueing what is not written. he hath his Anlwer ready; And [ben thefe are zealous words abfolurcly [0 no purpofe] but if tuch generall cor,(,gnation does not warrant every (bing that pretend; to Tradition. but only filch as are truly proved [0 be A pctiolicall , then Scripture i~ uldefii: as to this parricular., for fuch Tradition gives teHiroony to Scripture, and therefore is of ir iel.e hrft, and more credible, lor it is credible of ir fe!tej and therefore unk{fe S.Ba}! thought that all the will of God ill matters of Faith end Doctrine were written, I fee not what end nor what {cnle he could have in thete words: For no man in the world except Ellthujiajil and mad-men ever obtruded a Doctrine upon "the Church '" but he pretended Scripture 'or it or Tradn ion , and therefore no I!1an could be prerled by thefe words no man confuted" no man m!tructed, no not e"lhN ,ajh or }vlo>J"""Jh. For {uppole either of them 1110uld lily" that rince in ScdFI ure the holy GhoH is promited to abide with the Church for ever, to teach, whatev, r [hey pretend the Spirii in any Age hath tau&hr them, IS not to ruper-induce any thmg beyond what 15 writtl!~1 b~caui~~he truth.or' !he Spirit, hi~ veracity I and his perl~

pewa,

§.j.

Tbe Li!;ertJ of Pyopbtfjing.

peruill reaching being p~omifed and attefie~ in Scripture, S~r!p. tare hath jufl: to confign d all fuch Revelations as Perron taith it hath all fuch Traditions. But I will trouble my felfe 110 more with Araumenrs from any humane Authorities; but he ibar is furprized with the beliefe .of fu~h huthor~tie~, and ~ ill but confider the very many Tefiirnonies of Annquuy to this pur-

pore, as of' Confta1itine, b S.Hierom, • S. r,A~Jlin, d S: .A1~a •• Orar.ad N,naJiI/I, e S. HIIarJ' f S.epiphalliltf, and divers others, allifeaklllg Wi.PP. apud, words [0 [he fame rente, with that faying of S. gPaHI, JVemo Thcodorv l,r, follliilt It/per quod fori£tnm eft, will. fee [hat there is rear on , .that ~·r,~ M2ttb,1.4; Jince no ma':1 is marertally. a I:1erel!C~, but he th~t erre.s In a C"3, & in Agpoint of Faith, and all Faith 1S fufficlenly recorded III ,Scnpture, g3!UIll. , the judgement of Faith: and Herefy is t? be, denyed _from c Dc bono VI_ thence and no man is to be condemned tor diffenting In an d,It:,l: c.r,

, - bati T diti I' d d I Orot. comr,

Article for whole pro anon. ra l~lOn on y IS preten e : on y gent.

accordins to the degree of Its evidence, let everyone deter- C [ll pral.1 p. mine hi~[elre , but of this evidence we mutt not Judge for f L.2.C0J1tla. others: for unleffe it be in things of Pairh.andablolure certain- hcref.rom.j; ties, e~idence is a word of relat~on" and (0 fup~ofes two terms, hXI:~~'L4'

the objeCl: and the faculty; and It IS an imperfect {peec~ t~ fay g t

a thine is evident in it relfe (unleffe we fpeak of lirH prIl1clpl~s

or c1e~re!l: revelations) for that may be evident to,one that IS

not to to another, by reafcn of the pregnancy of lome appre.

henfions, and the immanniry of others.

This Difcourfe hath its intention in Traditions DGcirina11 and Ritnall, that is fuch Traditions which propofe Articles .n~w ill mmriA; but now if Scripture be the repofirory of all Dlvl,ne Truths iufficiem for us, Tradition rnuft be conlidered as Its inilrumenr, to convey its peat myHerioll(ne{fe to, our underfiandings; it is laid there are tradit~ve Interpretations as ~ell as rradiiive propotitions but there bav~ not muc~ dti~IDCI; coniideration in them both becaufe their uncertainty IS as great as the :other lIPO~ the former confiderations ; as. a.lfo becaufe in very deed, there are no fuch ~blflgS a, tradlUye Interpretations univerfall : For as for particulars, they figmfie no more but that they are not {ufficienr determinations of QE.eIlions Theologicall, therefore becaute they are particular, contingent,and ~hnfinite variety, and ,they are no more Argu-

N ~ mem

'f!

.1

1100

Tht Liberty 8f Prophefjing.

ment then the particular authority of there men whore Commcnrarics tbey are. and therefore mutt be conlidered witi! them.

I'll;r;:{'. r z , The (ummc is this: Since the Fathers who are (he belt

Wirnefles ofTrad:tiom, yet were infinirely deceived in their account, (IKe (ometimes they gueH at them and conjc:iured by way of Hille and Difcourie, and not of their knowiedoc not by evidence of the tIling; rince many are called Tra.l[;i~ am which were not 10, mmy are uncerraine whether tiley wel:e, or no. yet confidently prct.cn?cd; and th~s un~eminty wllle·;1 at fir(t was great enough, IS increaied bv infinite caules and accidents in the lu:cef1ion or 1600 yeares: iincc the Cuu.ch bath been either f) careletle or Jo abuled that alee could InC, 0, would nor pre.erve Traditions with carefulncGe 'loci trll:h; Iince it was ordinary for rhe old Writers to let Out their own iancies , and the Rites of their Church which had been Ancient under the Ipecious Title of Apoflolicall Ttldirions , Iince lome Traditions rely but upon lingle Tcflimolly at firlt, and yet defcending upon others, come to be attefied by mm}" whole Tefiimony though conjunct, yet in va'uc is but tlngle, becaule it rcliesupon the firf! lingle Relator, and 10 can have no greater autbority,orcenainty,then they derive from the lingleperloll; Iince rhe firll Ages who were moil: competent to conlign Tradition, yet did conl1gn Iuch Traditions as be or a nature wholy diicrepant from the prefenr ~nions , and Ipeak il1ori:ing at all or very imperfectly to our purpofes , and the IollOWing Ages are llO fit wimefles of that which was nor rranfinitted to the~) becauie (hey could not know it at all ) but by {uch cranlrl1lflion and prior configl13tion; Iince what at ErH was a Tradition, came afterwards to be written and (0 :ealcd it. being :a Tradition; yet the credit of Traditions commeacd upon the certainty and reputation of rhoie truths fila delivered by word, afterward conlign'd by wliting; fince what was certainly Tradition ApoHolicall, as many Rituals were, 9rt. rejected by me Church in teverail A_ges, and are gOl1e or:t. 1;1[0 a defuetude • and laHly, lince, betide the no necetliry or Traditions, there being abundantly enough in Scripture, there ,;l"C n;lany things called Traditions by the Fathers, which they

... . .. .. them-

The Li/;erty of Pyophefring.

e·6•

10i

-----~~--~~--~--------------------

thel~leh:es either proved by no Authors, or by Apocrypball

and 'purious and Heretical', the matter of Tradition will in ,"cry muci; be 10 uncertain, (0 falte, 10 ii.trpi(ious, 10 conrrauiCtory, {o Improbable, 10 unproved, that it a Qg_eftion be contefled and be o fie red to be proved only by Tradition, it will be \'er}' hard to irnpole {Ilch a propofirion to the belieie of 3Il men with any imperiouineffe or reiolvcd determination, bur it will be neceffary men (hould preterve the liberty of belie,·jog and yrophelying, and not pm with it, Ilpon a worte mcrchandite and exchange then EfilH made for his birth. light.

SECT. VI.

Or the uncertainty and in[ufflciel'Jty of Councels Ertle. ft4ficall to the [ame ftlYfo[e. "

BUt {ince we are all this while in uncertainty, it is neceflarv lJ"mxu ••• that we fhould addreffe our J(:ivcs iomewhere , where we

may ceLt the foale of our foot : Aed nature, Scripture, and ex-

penence teach [be world in matters of Q£..e!lion to lubmit to

fome finall fenrence. For it is not rearon that controverlics

ihould continue till the erring perfon (hall be willing to con-

demn hmlelfe j and the Spirit of God hath direded us by (hat

grear precedent at JeiuP.l~m, [Q addrctle our felves to (be

Church , thar ill a plenary Councell and Aflernbly , fhee mav

fynodically determine Controvcrfies, So (bat if a General;

Councell have derermin'd a Q:!;.liion, or expounded Scripture,

IV.e ll1ly no more disbelieve the Dccree , then the Spiri t of God

hlm(elre who ipe;:ks in rhem, And in.ieed, if all Aflembfies of

~:i~lOpS were like thar firll:, and all Bifhops were of (he lame

lF~nt of which the Apoflles were , I 01011td obey their Decree

;vlln (he fame Religion as I doe them who:e preface was

V:fum eft Spiritr4i Sanao & n~bif" And I doubt not but our

blel1ed Saviour intended that the Affemblies of the Church

QlOl!ld be Judges of Comroverlics, and guides of our periwa-

... -_. ~ 3 .. ~om

---~. --- .,-.--

J02 The Lih,,!] ofPropbtfJil1g. §.6.

~----'--'~Ii;l~~i;;~~of difficul(y-:-~ he aHa int~~dedtheylhou!d proceed according [0 his will which he had revealed, and thore precedents which be had made authentick by the immediate afIiHance of his holy Spirit: He hath done his pare, but we doe not doe curs. And if any private perfon in [he limplicity and purity of his [?ule ?e0rcs .to find 011[_ a o.u_th of which he is in (earch and inquitition, If he prayes lor wifedome , we have a promife be (hall be heard and aalwered liberally, and therefore much more, when the reprefentarivcs of the Catholike Church doe meet, becaute i every penon there hath in i>:dividlloa title to the promife , and auother title as he is a govern our and a guide of loules , and 1111 of them together have anorher tide in their united capacity, erpecially, if in that union they pray, and proceed with firnpliciry and purity; 10 that there is 110 difpuring againH the pretence and promifes , and authority of Generall Councels. For if anyone man can hope to be guided by Gods Spirit in the tearch , the pious and irnpartiall and unprejudicarc tearch of truth, then much more maya General! Councell, It no private man can hope for it, then truth is not neceflary to be tound , nor we are not oblig'd [0 iearch for ir, or elfe we are iav'd by chance; But if private men can by venue at' a promife , upon certain condirions be aflured of finding Out ii.,Hiciem truth, much more Ihall a Generall Councell, So that 1 confider thus: There are many promites pretended to belong to Generall Aflemblies in the Church; But I know not any ground, nor any pretence, that rhey Ihall be abtolurely .[filled; without any condition on their 01'11'1 parts, and whether they will or n01: Faith is a venue as well as charity, and therefore contilis in liberty and choyce , and hath nothing in it of necefliry . 1 here is no Q:..dtion but that they are obliged ro proceed according to fome rule; for they expect no aflitlance by way of EnthuJiajiJ'ie; if they 1110uld, I know 110 warrant for that, neither did any General! Councell ever offer a Decree which rhey did not think luiliciemly prov'd by ScI .pture, Rea. ion, or Tradition, as appears in the A."1s of (be Councels : now then, if tbey be tyed to conditions, it is their duy to obterve [bern; but whether it be cerraine [hat they IV 111 oJlerve them, that they will doe aU their duty. that they will not lin

even

§.6.

- -.-.--.~------.--- ----

The LiGe;ty of Prophejjillg.

e~;i~-ranicu!ar in the neglect of their duty, that's the coniidcrarion. So tll;!t if ony m-in queliions the Title and Au. rhoriry of Generall Councels , and whether or no great promiles appertain to them, I (uppok hi.n [0 be much miHaken; bur he alo that thinks all 01 rhem hive proceeded according (0 rule and reaton , and that none of r.iem were deceived, bc~ caute [ollibly the}' mighr have been truly directed, is a. (hanger to the HiHory of rhe Cl-urch , and to the perpetual! inllances and experiments or the I:wl!s and failings of humanity. It is a famous laying at'S. Grego:! thdt he bad the foure firll Coun: eels in efleern and vener .uon next to the Ioure Evangehlisj~ 1 fuppoie it was becaute ne did believe th.m co have proceeded according to Rule, ar: [0 have judgedrighreous judgemenr, but why had not he the tame opinion of other Councels too which were celebrated before his death , for he lived after the fifth Cenerall> not becauie they 'had not the fame Authority; for that which is warrant (or one is warrant for all ; but b.cau Ie be was nO[1[o confident tim they did their duty nor proceeded 10 without "ioterdl: as the firt]; toure had done, and the lo:Jowing Councels did never get that reputation which all [h~ Catholike Church acknowledged due to the firH foure, And 10 the next Order were toe three following gcncralls; (or ~be Greeks and Larines did never joyntly acknowledge but (even gen~ralls to have been authentick in any renfe, becaufe they were I:l no :enfe agreed that any mere then Ieven had proceeded reo gularly and done their duty : So that no~,: [be Qll.elhon 1~ not wnerher GeneralJ Conncels have a promue that the holyGhott will a[fia them ; For every private man bath that promue, that if be does his duty he {hall be alfiHed Inffciently j~ order t? that end to which he needs a[filiance; and therefore mum ruore [hall Gcnerall Ccnncels in order co th rt end tor which they convene, and to which they need at1ifiallce, that is.' in order LO the confervation of the Faith, for the doctrtnall. rules of good life, and all that concerns the el~et~tiall duty ol

3 (hrill ian , but nor in deciding Qll.eHions [0 tatisfie col1te~tious or cur :OUI or prefumpruous [~ltlts. Bur DOW can the BI· iliops 10 cenvcn'd be ractious , can [bey be abuled wuh preludice, 01 rran.poned wit.h interefis , can they Icult the, holy

- - . ..'_ ~hofto

The Lihlf!y of P,opbeJjil1g_~ 9.6.

---- ._----:_

~----··-···{i~;;~ in marrcrs of difficul,y. Bue he arro intendedtheylhould

proceed according to his will which he had revealed, and [hare precedents which he had made aurhenrick by the immediate affiRance of his holy Spirit: He hath done his part, but we doe not doe curs. And if any private perfon in the limplicity and purity of his r?ule ?C0rcs . ~o find out. a tl.u.lh of which be is in tea reb and inquifition, It he prayes lor wiiedome , we have a prorniie he (hall be heard and anfwered liberally, and therefore much more, when rhe repreferiratives of the Catholike Clurch doe meer , becaufe revery pericn [here hath in i>:divid"oa title (0 [he promiie , and another title as he is a gO\'ernour and a cuide of loules, and l!11 of them together have another title ~l their united capacity, erpecially, if in that union they pray, and proceed with Iimpliciry and purity; fo tbat there is no dilputing agJinH the pretence and promifcs • and authority of General! Councels, For if anyone man can hope to be guided by Gods Spirit in the tearch , rhe pious and irnparriall and unprejudicate tearch of rruch , then much more maya General! Councell, It no private man can hope for it, then rnuh is not neceflary to be tound , nor we are not oblig'd [0 Iearch for ir, or el:e we are iav'd by chance: But if private men can by venue of a prornife , upon certain conditions be allured of finding om iutticicm truth. much more (hall a Generall Ccuncell, So that 1 confider thus: There are many promiles pretended ro belong (0 General! Aflemblies in the Church; Bu t I know not any ground, nor any pretence, rhar they ihall be abiolutcly alrilled, without any condition on their own parrs , and whether they will or nol: Faith is a venue as well as charity, and therefore coniitis in liberty and choyce, and hath llothing ill it of neceiliry , "1 here is no Q:.:_eition but that they are obliged to proceed according to lome rule; for they expect no alTi11ance by way of Entlm/i.y!};e; if they 1110uld, I know no warrant for that, neither did any Generall Councell ever offer a Decree which they did nor think lufliciemly prov'd by Scripture, Rea. Ion, or Tradition, as appears in the A,"1s of rhe Councels : 1101V rhen, if they be ryed to conditions, it is their dny to obierve them , but whether it be certaine that they IV rll OJlerve them, thar they will doe 3:1 rbeir duty, that they will not (;n

even

'02

-------- - - __ .. -.- .. ~ .. _-- .. ~.

§.6.

The Li/;e'ty at PropbeJjillg.

even in this rarticu!ar in (he neglect of their duty, that's the contidcration. So that if <iny man queiiions the Tide and Au> (Doric), of Generall Councels , and whether or no grear pro. mih s appertain to them. Iluppole him [Q be much miilaken , bur he allo that thinks all 01 rhem luve proceeded accor.iing to rule and reaton , and that none of r.iem were deceived, be~ csule :,olTib:y the)' might have been truly dire3ed, is a. Hrangcr [0 [he Hiltory of the Church. and to the perpetual! iniiances end experiments 01 the tauhs and tailings of humanity. It is a famous laying of S. Grego'}' (hat he had the foure firit Couneels in efleern and veneration next to the ioure EvangeliHs,; I fuppore it was becaute he did believe rh.m ro have proceeded according to Rule. and to have judged righteous judgement; but why had not he the lame opinion of other Councels too which were celebrated before his death, for he lived alter the fifth Cenerail> not became rbey'had not the tame Authority ; for thar which is warrant [or one is warrant for all j but b.caure he was nonfo confident that they did their duty nor proceeded ro without"interelt as the firl! toure had done, and the lo!lowing Councels did never get that reputation which all rh~ Catholike Church acknowledged due to the firH foure. And III the nexr Order were the three following generalis; lor ~he Greeks and Latines did never joynrly acknowledge but Ieven gen:ralls to have been authentick in any ten fe, becauie they were 1;1 no !enfe agreed that any mere then feven had proceeded regu!arlyand done their duty : So that no~,: the QE_eHlon I~ not whether General1 Conncels have a promne that the holy Ghoit will alTiR them; For every private man bath that promiie, that ifhe does his duty be iliall be alfiHed Infficienrly in order to that end to which he needs allillance; and therefore much !TIore 111all General! Cermcels in order to rh.r end tor which thty convene , and to which they need alliHance, that is_, in order to the contervarion of the Faith, for [he doctrinal] rules of eood life and all [hat concerns the eflenriall duty of

a Chrill i~n, bur 'nor in deciding Q!!e!tions to tatisfie conre~tious or curious or prefumpruous [pims. Bur aow can the HI!hops fo c()mcn'd be tattious, can they be abuted with prejudice) or rr • n.poned with interefls , can they lelrlt [he, boly

- . . .... .... ~boH,

jO~

105

;,~ '~\~;~~~l, ~.;.~~:;:

!',:Ull.l. Ib:tl .. vin, in ru: .. dcm. &. ~'" ;\c1' ~:dt.ln l-'_:;,1.I.

Expel: "

__ , _ _!!:_!i~e~'t)_ of !~'op~efyi'!_g.,___ Q.6;

Chon:, =. they c);tingllilh the Spirit, can they flo-p- their cares, and ,!erve rhemfelves uponthe h?ly ~p;rit and the pre~ence Of his aIliHa~ces, and ceaie [0 Ierve him upon themielvcs , \lY captl\'~tl1lg their lI11de,rHandings to his dictates, and their wills to ,h,IS pr~cepts? Is It necetlary they (liould per!oIm ~ny c~l1dI[J,?n ? IS there aI!~ one duty for them to perform 111 thee Ali~mb'lcs, a duty which they have power to doe O~ nor cae? H _l?, the:1 they may [aile of ir, and nor doe their duty: A!,d It the atllllartCe of rhe holy Spirit be condirionill then we ha ve no more al1urance that rhey are allilied then til a; they doe their duty and doe not (lnne. ' . _ Now! l,cr us !ilFPole what this duty is: Certainly, if the GoJpd be hid, It IS h.d to them [hat are 10ft; and all rhat come to tl:e LI1;:vledge of, ~hc rruth , mull come ro it by {'ICi! mcar'cs l'nJ'Ci1 are ipiriuull and holy di'potuior» ill Ol',JC" to a holy and. Ji)irir~?l~ ='. Tbey mUf.l be [hod \:itlI [b~ preprmrm or rue Gol?eI ot peace, that IS, they mufl have peace?b!~ and, dccible dhpoiirions, nO.thing with them that is vic'cnr, ,tl1U r~ioiL;le to er.counrer thole gentle and Jivec( 2flif-bllces: and the Ru'e they arc to Iollow , is rhe Ru'e wLich the holy ~Pllll bath cc,]lign'd to the Catholike Church, that is the ho, ly Scnpture , either • il1ti~,'!y or at leaH for rhe grearer part of the Rule,' . So rhar now If the Biil.ops bee iilttious and prepotlelt WIth perfwafior:s depending upon interell , it is cenzin ~hcy may judEc crniile , and if they recede from the Rule ir IS certain they doe judge amitle : And this I fay upon thtir groun~s wl:o molt advance the authority of General! Counccls : lor Jt 3 Cencrall Councell may erre if a Pope confirm i: nor J ,then n.otl ccnainly if in any thing it recede from Scrip. ture, It does alro crre , becaute that they are to e1pel:t tile ~cpes cOnfinml!Cn they offer to prove frcm Scripture: now it "de] P,ores conhrmat.on be required by authority of Srripturc, a,llu ,mat rherelore the l~erail!arce of ir does evacuate the Au. ~(jomy 01 die CO"1:ce11, then alia are [lie CCt1I~CelS Decrees invalid , ,if they recede from any other parr of Scripture : Sc ~llJt ~cfJPtll!·e IS the Rule they are tofollow , and a man would nave thouglll !t bad been needletlc tv have proved it, but that we are rauen nuo /I gcs ill which no limb is cerraiee, 110 realon

COllCil1ding

The Liberty of Prophefjing.

--------

concluding, Dar is there any thing that can convince Come

men, ~or St'pletolf w,ith extreme ~ldne{fe againH the piety

of ChriHe1'ldome, agamH the pnbltke ienfe of the ancient RclcCl. con(hurch, and thepra¢1i[e of all pious A{fembJies of Bilhopsaf- UOV.4.q.l.a.~ firmes the Decrees of a Councell to be binding, .tiamji nOlI

co.fir"!.tHr ne probaklli teflimoHio &riptHYofYHlJ')l hay. though it

be qUlle extra ScriptHrflm, but all wife and good men have

ever faid thac Ienfe which S.HilarJ expreffed in there words •

f2!!! extra &v.1I1gebum fHnt 11m defmd"m; This was it which r., 1, ad Ceatile good Emperour Conjllllltine propounded -to the Fathers flanc,

met at NI(e,libn eflangeliei, orllcH!a ~p.jlolorum,& veterum ApudThtodor. ·Pr.phetllrum cl~r;' nss inftruullt quid flnttendHrn ;nDi'lJinis, J ',<,7.

and this is con felled by a fober man of the Roman Church it

Jeife, the Cardinall of CII{a, 0 porm quod omn;" 'alia qll<£ le- Concord. Cager, d~btnt, contilleAlltHT in AHlhGritatibHI [acTarum S";plura- ihol, 1.>.C,10. rult) : Now then all the advantage 1 !hall rake from hence, is

this, That if the Apoflles commended them who examined

their Sermons by their conformity to the Law and the Prophets,

and the men of BerM were accounted noble for fearching the

Scriptures whether rhote things which they taught were 10 or

DO; I fuppofe it will not be denyed , but the i.ouncels De.

crees, may alto be rryed whether they be conform to Scripture

yea or no; and although no man can take cogni[anceand judge

the Decrees of a Councell pro Authorilllte pHblica, yet pro ill-

_formation, privllta they may j [he Authority of a councellis

not greater then the Authority of the Apo!Ues, nor their di-

elms more Iacred or autbenrick. Now then put cafe a Councell

fhould recede fiom Scripture; wherher or no were we bound

ro believe its Decrees? I only aske the Qy_efiion: For it were

bard to be bound to believe what to our underllanding teems

contrary rothat which we know to be the Word of God : But

if we may lawfully recede from the Councels Decrees, in cafe

they be conrrarianc to scripture. it is all that I require in

this QQ_eHion. For if they be tyed to a Rule, then they are to

be examined and under Hood according to the Rule, an~ the?

we are to give our Ielves that liberty of judgement wnlchl£

requuire to diHinguilh us from bealts , and to put us into -a

capacity of reafonable people, following reajonable guides, But

o how

i!

---~~-~ ._---------

The Li6erty of Prgpbefying.

however if it be cerraine that the Councells are to follow Scripture. then if it be notorious that they doe recede from Scripture , we are fure we mull obey God rather [ben men. and then we are well enough. For unlelfe we are bound [0 (hut eur eyes J and not to look upon [he Sunne , if we may give our felves hberry to believe what feemes moil plaine, and unIe(fe [h~ Authority of a Councel! be fo great a prejudice at to make us to doe violence [0 our underilanding, fo as not to disbelieve the Decree, becaufe it feemes contrary to Scrip. ture, but to believe it agrees with Scripture, though we knolV not how, therefore becaufe the Councell bath decreed it, unIeffe I fay we be bound in duty to be fo obediently blind, and fottifh, we are fure that there are fome Councels which are pre. tended Generall, that have retired from the publike notorious words and fence of Scripture. For what wit of man can reo corxile the Decree of the thirteenth Seffion of the Councell of C?njl4nce with Scripture, in which Seffion the halfe Com. mUl110n was decreed. in defiance of Scripture, and with a non obFflll1tc to Chrilts imlirution, For in the Preface of the Decree, Chri{js inilitution and the practife of'the Primitive Church is expre!fed, all? then with a non obfta"te, Communion in one lolKils ~flablllbt. Now then firppofe the n01J oGftantc in the for~ o~ w?rds relates to the Primitive I'caCl:ife; yet tince Chrifls Inltltution was taken notice of in the firll: words of the Decree, and the Decree made quire contrary to ic.ler tne non ob/llln:c relate whither it will. the Decree (not ro call it a defiance) IS a plaine receffion from [be inrlitution of Chrill, and therefore the no" o"/fame will referre [0 that without any lenlible error j and in,~eed fQr all the excutes to the contrary.ihe Decree was nor to dllcreerly fram'd but that in the very fonn of words, the defiance and the "on oGjlllnte is too plainly relative to th~ lirH words. For what fenre can there be in she firll liett die? /"'ct Chrijlflsin fIIr":h /pcllie, and !tcet Eccle/i>f 'Primiti'I){/~ eYc. 14mm hoc "0" o6jhmte, (fre. the fidl /;eet being are- 1.3[Jve terme, as weJJ as the fecond lim, mult be hounded with tome corre/pondent. But it matters not much. let them whom :t c?ncerne~ eni~y ~he benefic . of all excu.es they can imagine,

:;.c IS certarne Chrrits mlhcutlon and the €onncels limtlion

are

~.6.

are as contrary as light and darknefle. Is it Fofiiblefor any man to contrive a way to make the Decree of ibe Councell of Trellt, cOll1mallding the publike Offices of the Church to be inl.arine, friends with the fourteenth chapter of the Corinthi""J? It is not amlfle to obferve howthe HyperafpiHs of that Councell Iweat to anfwer the Allegarions of S. P lIul, and the wi(efi of them doe it (0 exrremly pcore , that it proclaimes to all the \Vorid that the ll:rongell man, that is, cannot eat Iron or fwal. Iowa Rock. Now [hen J would it act be an unfpeakable Tyranny to all wife perfons , (who as much hale to have their foules enflaved as their bodies. imprifoned) to command them to believe that thefe Decrees are agreeable to the word of God? Upon whofe llDderilanding foever the Ie are impofed, they may at the next Seflion reconcile them to a crime, and make any finne (acred, or perf wade him to believe propoiitions conrradido-, ry to a Marhematicall demonflrarion, All the Arguments in the world that can be brought to prove the infallibility of Councels, can not make it 10 certain thai: they are infallible, at there tWO infiancel doe prove infallibly thar rhefe were deceived, and if ever we may fafely make ufe of our reafon anill conlider whether Councels have erred or no, we cannot by any reafon be more aflured, that they have or have not, then we have in thefe particulars : fo [hat either our reafon is of no manner of ufe, in the diiCuffion of this Qu.efiion, and the thing

it ielfe is not at all to be dilputed, or ifit be, we are certain that; thefe actually were cdecei,v~d, and w,e mull: never hope ~or a clearer evidence in any diipure, And If there be, others might have been, if they di.d as thefe did, that is, depart from [heir Rule. And it was Wifely faid of CHfoIlUI: Not4nd_ eft expe-

,IT'. L •• ,c.r~,COfl~

rimmtD rerflm u",verfole CDlIcilium p,»e deficere: Theexpe- cord.C~thGl.

rience of it is notorious, that Counce Is have erred : And all

rhe Arguments againil experience are but .plaiA fophiflry.

And therefore 1 make no fcruple to {hght the Decrees of Nflm6. 3; fuch Couecels , wherein [he proceedings were as prejudicare

and unreafonahle, as in the Councell wherein tAilIlil4rdHI was condemned, where the preiidenrs havine pronounced D41JP"4_

mill, they at the lower end being awaked at [he noire, heard the

Iatter part of it, and concurred as time as M,,,,,,,uI went, and

o 2 (hu

I", , 'I

The LihertJ of Prophefying.

109

168 The Lihl!¥tJ ofProphefying. Q.6'

"'_ ~~~-~--;--:-:-~::-:=~~I::::I::::Ii::== -.'

that was as good as Dflmn4mUI , for if they had been awake at

the pronouncing the whole w?rd, they would have given lenrenee aCGordingly. But by this meanes S. Bernard numbred the major part of voices again!! his Adverfary Avail"rdm; And as farre as there men did doe their duty, the duty of Prietls and [udges, and wiie men; fo we may prefiime them to be alliiled:

But" no further. But I am com em this (beeau/e but a private Affembly ) !11aIl pafle for no inllance: But what fhall we fay of all the Arrian Councels celebrated with {o great fancy, and Juch numerous Affemblies ] we all fay that tbey erred. And it will not be lufficient to fay they were not Iawtiill Counce's:

For they were conven'd by that Authority which all the world knowes did at that time convocate Councels , and by which (as it is • confefled and is notorious ) the firit eight Generalis did meet, that is by the Authority of the Ernperour all were called, and as many and more did come to them, then came to

the mof! famous Councell of Nice; So that the Councels were Jawfull, and iirhey did not proceed lawfully, and therefore did erre, this.is to fay that Councels are then not deceiv'd , when they doe their duty, whenthey judge impartially, whrn they decline inrerefi , when they follow their Rule; bur this [ayes alfo that it is not infallibly cerra:n that they will doe fo; {orchei\: did not, and therefore the others may be deceiv'd as well ,s thefe were. But another thing is in the 1'1' ind; for Counceh not confirmed by the Pope" have no warrant-that they (hail not erre , and they not being confirmed, therefore taild, But whether is the Popes confirmation afier the Decree or before? It cannot be fuppoted before; for there is nothing to be confirmed till the Decree be made, and the Article competed. But if it be after, tbenpoffibly the Popes Decree may be requitire ill fokmniry of Law. and to make [be Authority popular, publike ana humane; but the Decree is true or falfe before the Popes confirmation. and is not at all altered by the fupervening Decree, whichbeing pofbuzte to the Decree, alters not whar wcnr.befbre , 1'1Nnqutlm mim ,reftlt e).: pofifarto prd!feriti 4h· maf/o, is the voyce both of Law and reafon. So that it can., lOOt. make it divine, and neceflary to be heartily believed. It may, makt;; .it.lawfulJ, not make it rrue.that is"it may pollibly"

. .,""., . by

Epifl, Mailar· d"d He1ill~ conjugcm,

<) Gllf:UlUS).t. ,,?,'S. COil. ~ord_.

by (ueh meanes become a law but n~[ a truth. I I~eak now upon luppofition the Popes confirmation were nece£lary.> an.d requir'd to the making of conciliary and neceffar~ lan~1t. OIlS. But if it were. the cafe were very h~rd : ~or tuppole a herefy fhould invade, and po~effe the eh,me ot Rome, what remedy can the Church have 111 that cafe, If a GC~lerall s:oun. cell be of no AUthority withou~ the ~op'e ,:onfir~ It? WIll the Pope confirm a Councell agatn!!: himtelfe , will, he eondtn:n

his own here[y? That the Pope may be a Hererick app~ars. In 'D{tao.C:n. the' Canon Law. which fayes ~e n~ay fa!" herefy be depo'ed, fi [','[,,1.

and therefore by a Councell which In chis caFe hath plenary

Authoritv without the Pope. And therefore In the Synod at

Rome held under Pope AdriAn the Second, t~le Cenfiire ~f

the Sixth Synod againH H~l1oriUJ who wa.s eo~vl~t of l~ere!y: ~s

approved with this Appendix , that In [hIS. care tne e~~e cf ':~-

reiy , mil10ru pDjJint de mtlJoYl6us jud,c:lr s , And ,the,.Jore 11 a

Pope were above a Councell, yet when the Q:!,eillOn IS,concer_.

ning herefy, the cafe i.s altered; .the. Pope m~y be iudg. d by !-~lS

inieriours who in this cafe which IS the maine cale . or all, be-

come his'SuperioIlIS. And it is linle better then Impudence

to pretend that aU Counc~lls Iyere confi:n:ed by ~be _Pope, or

that there is a ncceffity in rClpca of divine obligaticn, [hac

any {bould be confirmed by him, more thet: ~y ~no[her of th_e

Patriarchs. For the Councell ot Chatcadon It lelle one of t\~ole

foure which S,Gregorl did reve.re ~ext to t~efoure EVJnge;llls,

is rejected by Pope u«, who I~ hl~ S3 EpI!tle [? ~l"atc.t:'f,

and in his 54tO <Martian, and 111 hll. ~ 5 to 'Pu!ciJerta,accu[es !c

of ambition and inconfiderate tementy , ~,!d therefore no ~jt

Affembly for the habitation of the holy Spinr , and CJ_el4i11S I~

his Tome de vincu!o~"athematJJ, affirm! that the Counc~llls

;11 part to be receiv'd, in part to be rejected, and ~omrar~s It to

hereticall books of a mixt matter, and proves his atiertion bY'

rhe place of S. Paul, Omn;" prov"te, quod b.num elf retsnet«,

And Bdl"rmin,fayes the tame; 11J Cqllcilia Chal,edonmji. q~d!dam- D, l iicis, L ~. fiM /;on" (pud,.m mal" ~qU$d4m ''''pimatt, qIJ£.d.t.mreJ'clend~; c: 20,·~ "~J v.; ita & in i;/;rio h£retic4r~m, and ifany thing be fa!!e, ~!Jen all is u.c. ~aionable,and judicable and ditcernable.and not infallible ante-

sedenrly, And however that Councellhath (1: pcjlf.fllc,and by roe.

. J 0 :I voluntary

ii I'

:1 ';'

The Liberty of ProphefJing.

III

110

EVJgr·1iI·.3· CJ('·3C•

The Libert) of Propht[ying. ~.6.

-v-o-Iu-n-ta-r-y-c-o-nfenri~g of arrer Ages ohrai~ed great reputa~ion-. yet they that lived immediately afrer it, {bat obferved all th~ circumflance, of the thing. and the qifabilities of (he perfons,and the uDc~rraimy of the truth of its decrees , by reafon of the UBconcludmg~lle of the Arguments brought to anelt it, were of another mind, 0!3d "lItelH tid C DllciliulH C h4lcedone"fo Atlinet illud :d. t~mpDril('I3I::'. eAlIlIftAjii Imp.) n~ palam i.N Eccleji; f4nflijJmSlf prd!dlC4t11m fai«, ncIJ., 4b ,mni/;m rejeElHIII,nJlIH (iNgNli E_cc/e(i.trum ~r<tjides pro flo flr6itrJltil ;n etl re .gerMnt. And ,fo d~d all men in [~e wo~ld that were not matier'd with prejud.lCes a~d undone UJ t?elr underllanding with accidentali imper, unenCles;. ~hey Judg d upon rhofe grounds which they had and la.w, and lulfered not themfelves to be bound ts the imperious dictates of other men, who are as uncertain in their determinations as other in theirQ!!.eHions, And it is an evidence that there is lome deception, and nstable errour either in toe thinz or in the manner of their proceeding, wben the Decrees of ~ Councell Ihall haven? authority from the Compilers, nor no fire.ngth from the reafonablenefle of the deciiion, bur from the accidenrall approbation of Pollerity : And if Potleriry had pleafed,or{gm had believed well and been an Orthodox per. 1011. And It was pretty fporr to fee that Papitll was right for ~wo Ages rogerher , and wrong ever fince j and ju(l fo it was 10 Councels, pa!ticularly in this of Chtllcedon, that had a fate alterable accordmg [Q the Age, and accordins to the Climate which to m~ underRanding is nothine elfe bUt an Argumen~ that t,he buhnelfe of infallibility is ablater device, and COIDmenc d .£0 rerve ftlch ends as cannot be juflified by true and 111bl1an[l~1l grounds , and that the Pope lhould confirm it as of necenlty, IS a fit cover for the fame dial.

1n tfue lixth ~enerall Couneell, lIonorilil Pope of Rome was c?ndemoed; did that Councell Ray for toe Popes Confirmanon before they {ene forth their Decree? Certainly they did no~ think It fo needf~ll, as thar they would have fnlpended or callated the Decree, 111 cafe the Pope had then difavowed it:

For beftdel the condemnation of Pope 1I0no';HI for herely, the 13 th and 55th Canons of rha; Councell are exprelfely again(t the cuHome oftbe Church of RQme. But tkis particslar is in-

valved

§.6.

volved in to at new Cl!!,.eflion, whether the Pope be above a CouncelJ. Now fince the Contellarion of this Q.!!_eHiof!, {here was never any free or lawfull Councell that determined for the

Pope,ic is not likely any fhould.and is it likely that any Pope will • Vid. pcilr~ confirm a Councell that does not? For the Councell of Btlji/ is dcC"ndl.~n· therefore condemo'd by the laH Lateran which was an Alfem- \~lIano. §,6. bly in the Popes own Palace, and the Councell of Conf/flnce is N.9•

of no value in this Q$Hion, ard flighted in a jull: proportion,

as that Article is disbelieved. But I will not much trouble the

<:l!!,.ellion with a Ion" contideration of this particular; the pre-

tence is {en[elelfe and illiterate. againH reafon and experience,

and already derermin'd by S. Auf/in fufficiently as to this par. Epill,161.0<1., ticular , Ecce pumnm illas 8pifcopos qui ROW/Ill judicwverullt n6H Glcriun-, 60>101 judiCe! fllif{e, Ref/"allllt tldhuc plellarilllH Ecc!ejilll H/I'Ver!£

(onci/ium ubi etitlm CUIII ipfit ;udicilJlM ,,,ufo poJlit "lit",;, Ht (i

",.Ie jHdicttjJe conviEli e/!mt> eorm» {eHlenti£ fo!verentur. For

fince Popes may be parries, may be Simoniacks , Schilmacicks.

Herericks, it is againH: reston that in their own caufes, they

(hould be judges, or that in any caules they Ihould be fuperior

(0 their judges. And as it is againH reafon , [0 is it againH all

experience toO i for the Councell Sillv,jJamlw ( a's it faid) was

conven'd to take Cognifsnce of Pope tMamllmuf; and divers

Councels were held at Rom« to give judgement in the caufes

of'Dllmttfitl, Sh,tul the 111, Symmnchuf, and Leo III and IV,

as is to be teen in Platimf, and the Tomes of [be Councels, And

it is 110 aafwer to this and the like allegations to fay il3 mat ~

rers of fad and humane conllirution, [he Pope may be judg'd

by a Councell , but in matters of Fait» all the world muf}

(land to the Popes determination and authoritative decifion :

For if the Pope can by any colour pretend to any thing, it is to a Juprem Judicature in matters Ecclefiatiicall , poflrive and of fact; and if he fai·les in this pretence, he will hardly hold up his head for any thing eIfe; for the ancient Biiliopsderiv'd their Faith from the fountaine ; and held that in [he higheH tenure, even from Chrifl their Head; but by reafon of the

Imperiall * City it became the principal! Seat, and he Iurpriz'd .• .

the higetl: Judicature, partly by the conceffion of. others .' pa.rtly • IVide ~,v~ed:. by his 01'1'11 accidearall ad',antages,and yet even m. thele thll1g' C.Jak~J ""J ,.

.. altho';lgh

113

112.

The LihertJ of propheJjil1g.

although he was major fingtllil, yet he was mit1oru~h'erjit: And

M\'ulr.c3n.> {. this is no more then what was decreed of the eighrh Gene. rail Synod; which if it be fenie, _is pertinent to this 9l!.-eflionj for General! Councels are appoinred to take Cognrzance of Ol..lt!{\ions and differences about the Bifhop of Ro,,!~, non t"m~1i audAffer in emil Jerre fo>l.tet;'tillm: By lI~dafflr, as IS ~Ilppo[ed.' IS meant fr<fcipitilllter halhly and lInr~a{onabl):';. but If to give fenrcnce azainfl him bee wholy forbidden, It 15 non '[enre, ror to what purpofe is an Authority of taking. Cognizance, if they have no power of gIVing [e~ten~e, lI~lefie It were to oeferre it to a Iuperiour Judge, wluch. 10 this cafe.cannot be fup: pored] for either the Pope himfelfe IS to Judge hIS own callf~at. rer their examination of him, or the Generall Councell IS to ~dge him: So [hat although the Councell is by that Decree enJoy n'd to proceed mo_deHly and warily, r~t they may ~ro· ceed to renrence , or elfe the Decree IS ridiculous and ,1m.

pertinent. . .• .

But to deare all I will inflance 10 matters of Qu.e!hon and

.opinion : For not o'nly lome Councels have made their Decrees without or agail1fl the Pope, but Iome Counce Is have had ~~e Popes confirmation , an? yet have not been th~ more legirimare or obligatory, but are known to be heretl~all, F or (he . Canons of the fixth Synod although [orne. ot them were made againtl: the Popes, and the cutlome ot the Church of R.'1m, a Pope a while after did confirm the Councell, and yet the Canons are impious and hereticall , and [0 efleem'd by the Chuich of Rome her (elte. I inHance in the Iecond Canon which approves of (hat Syl1C'Jd of Cilrlh"g~ under CJpr!,:'1 for rebaptization of Hereticks , and (he 7" Canon that diflolves marriage between perlons of differing pefi'wa{ion in matters ot Chrillian Religion , and yet rhere Canons were approved b.y Pope O/Jdr;.,:: 1. who ill his EpiHle to Th.,rajilll, which rs ill [he Iecond action of the fevemh Synod, calls them CR.' Hones divine & "glillter predicsto), And tbete Canons were uled by Pope N,d;ofas I. in his EpiHle ad ,hichat/cm, and by Innocent III. c. fl muftis, extra. de era, ordmandoTum. So that now ((hat wee may apply this) (here are Ieven G~.

.nerali Councels which by the Church of Rome are condemn d Qf

9.6•

of errour. The " Councell of AlltiDch, A.D, 34f· ;in which ~V'J S 11 S. Athlll:Afilll was condemn'd: The Councell of t7vlil~lJi~~ C.5~ &,~~:~~: .A,'D. H4,ofabove JOO Bifhops : The ~ouncel1 of eArl"". l,j.e,5.

~lIm confifling of 600 Bifhops : The fecond Coancell ofEphe- .

Jus ~.D. 449' in which the ElIlJchi4" herefy was confirmed, ~rcgor.,"Re_

and'tlle Patriarch FI"via>luJ kild by the fa6tion ofDi'.ft07111 : The g~fi·cl,.3.caul.(7.

nd au, . oncr 1Un.! Councell of ConftalZt;nopltf under LeI! lfourul , A.D·730: A· Numidia! c:r-

another at Conflantinop" 35 years after: And lamy, the Coun- ro[e. Concili, eel at Pif4 154 yea:s fince •. Now that thefe Generall Coun- u~ Aq~i:gra: eels are condemn'd, IS a fufficient Argument that Ccuncels may OJ man, ••. Ce

-. . fi 'd b h ra ptore cc

erre , andit isnoanfwer to fay tbey were not con rm y t e upl~di(l •• o.

Pope; tor the Popes coatirmation I h~ve {hewn not co be neceffa- can.de hbelhs, ry, or it it were, yet even chat alfo IS ~n Argumen.t that Gene. ill 1l1olT&,

rall Councels may become invalid , el~her by t~elr own fa~I[,

or by fame extrinfecall fupervenmg accidenc , el.ther o~ which

evacuates their Authority; and whether all that IS requ!red te

the legitimation of a Councell, was a6l:ually obferv'd 1~ any

CouncelI, is fa hard to determine. that no ~an can be l~~allt-

bly Cure that fiich a Councell is authentick and fufficlenc

probation.

2. And that is the fecond thing I t'hall obferve , There are Num(,.6. fo many QEs:!lioilS concerning the efficient. the forme, the

matter of Generall Councells, and their manner of proceeding •

and their finall (ancHon, rhat after a ~llion is derermin'd

by a Conciliary Affembly, there are pe!haps twenty m?re~-

!Hons to be difpuced before we can wlth.confidence clth~r be-

lieve the Councell upon its meere Authority. or obtrude It up-

on others. And upon this ground, how ealy it is to elude the

preflure of an Argumel'lt drawn from the Autbo!icy of a Ge-

nerall Councell , is very remarkable in the ~lhon about the

Popes or the Councels SlIperiorit):" wbicb Q!leHion although

ir be defin'd for the Councell agall1H the Pope by five Gene-

rall Coancels the Councell of FloreNce, of {, onj/ance, of Ba{tl,

of Pifo, and one of the L.tter<m'"yet the Jefitites to this day,

account this Q!lcHion pro '119n defimt!t. and have. rare pre-

tences for their eteape , as firH, It is true,a C~)lJncelJ!s a?ove a r.

Pope, in care there be no Pope, or he lInCertall?; which IS Btl/Armme's anfwer, never ccofidering whether he ipa~e ienre or no,

. . p ~

(j~

:IIel13r, de 'tonc.l.Lc.8.

The ,Liherty of Pfopbefying.

nor yet remembring that [he Conncellof Bafi/eepofed ellgtlliHl who was a [rue Pope and (0 acknowledg'd. Secondly,fometimes rhe Pope did not confirm thefe Councels, that's their Anfwer: ( And althoush it was an exception [hat the Fathers never rhougbt ot: ::hen they were pretfed with the Authority of the Councell of Arimillu19Jor.S,rmillm, or any other ~rrian Con~ v ention ; ) yet the. Councell of Baft! was conven'd by Pope M~rti,. V. then, in its Iixteenth Seflion, declar'd by eHg~lIiUJ the IV, to be lawfully continued and confirmed exprefly in lome of its Decrees by Pope NIcholas, and [0 Hood till it was at 1all: rejected by L CQ X. very many years after; but that came too late, and with roo vitible an interefi ; and this Conncell did decree fide Cathy/tea tenendum C ollcltifSm eJ[e flpr" P"P4l'l: : But if one Pope confirms ir, and another rejects it, as it happened in this cafe and in many more, does it not dellroy the com. p~[ency of the Authoriry? and we fee it by this intlance, that it [0 rerves the WInS of men, that it is good in rome cafes, that is, when it makes for them, and invalid when it .. makes againl! them. Thirdly, but it is .a little more ridiculous in the caie of the Councell of Conjlance, whole Decrees were confirm'd by UUi1rtin V. But that this m~y be no Argum~m againH them, Be/!""mille tells YOll he only confirm'd thofe things qft£ faEl~ fuerant Conci/iariler.1'6 diltgenter ~KallJin"t/i, of which there being no mark, nor any certain Rule to judge it, it is a devic: that may evacuate any thing. we have a mind to, it was not done Conci/i"rit'er, that is, om: according to our mind; for Con. ci/illriter is a fine new nothing, that may. fignifie what you pleafe, Fobrthly, but other devices yet more pretty they have:

As, Whether the Councell of Lateran was a General! Councell or no, rheyJcnow not , (no,nor will n.n know) which is a wife and pla ine refervation of their own advantages, to make it GeneraJl or not Generall, as lhall ferve their turns. Fifthly, as for the Gouncell of Florence, they arenot lure, whether it bath de,hn'd the <l!!.~Hionj:ltjJ apertf; apme .hey will gram, if you wllI"allolY them aor folit apert~. Sixthly and JaH:l y I the Councell of Ptf.1 is ne~ "p;rabaIHm >IIi reprobalum, which is the fireatelt folly of all and moll: prodigious vanity; [0 that by ~omething Df other, . either they were &jOt convea'd lawfully, or

._- ---_ -.- ... - - - - -. -_ ' ... " .. _. __ .. _-_. ~hey

------------~-~~-._~."1=o.

The Libmy 6/ Propbefjiltg.

they did not proceed Co"cili"riter , or 'tis not certain that the Councell was Generall Of 110,) Of whether the Counce!! were Approbllllim) or repro~.",mJ. or elfe it is partim eonjit1lJlltlim pArlir» rt;reblllllrN, or elfe it is "uh tlpprOblttH>1J nei re;rotlltum; By one of rhefe wayes or a device like to tnefe, all Councels and all Decrees Ihall be made to lignifie nothing I and to have no Authority.

3. There is DO General! . Councell that hath determined Numb, 7. that a Geaerall Counsell is infallible: No S~rijJture hath re-

corded it; no Tradition univer{all hath tranfrnitted to us any

fuch propofition; So that we mull receive [he AuthOrity at a

lowerrate , and upon a Idfc probability then the things con-

Iigned by that Authority. And it is Itr~lJge th~t th~ Decrees

of Councels Ihould be efleerrrd authentick and infallible , and

yet it is not infaHiblx cerrain , that the Councels th~mfe!v~s

are infallible, becaule the beliefe of the Ccuncels infallibi-

lity is not prov'd to us by any medium ,but fuch as may de-

ceive us.

4· But the belt inflance that Councels are fome and may NII11;".:t; all be deceived, is the contradiction of one Councell to -anotherj

for in [hat cafe both cannot be true. ana which of them is

true, mult belong to another judgement, which is le£l_'e then

the Iolennity of a Generall Councell, and the determination

of [his matter can be of no greater certainty .~fter it. is ~o~.

eluded, then when it was propounded as a Q£_elhon, being It IS

to be determin'd by the fame AUthority or by a Idle [ben it

{elfe. But for this allegation, we cannot want inflances; The

Couneell of Trent allowes piCiuring of God [he Father; The SdT",.. Councell of Nteealtogether difallowes it; The [a~~ Ni~m~

Councell, which was the Ieventh Generall, allows of plc'turrng A3. t.

ChriH in the form of a Lamb; But the fixth Synod by no

meaoes will endure it, as Car"""",,, affirms: The Councell of

Ntoc"farea confirm'd by LeQ IV,dijl.2o, de lIbeOil, andapprov'd Can, S'.

by the filll: '1X!.cene Councell as it is laid in the ,reventh Se,llion of

the Councell of Ptormce, forbids fecond Marriages, and impores

Penances en them [bat are married [he fecond time, forbidding

Prieils to be prelent at fuch Marriage FeaHs: Betides , ,:hat

ibis is exprefly aeainfl the Dodrine of S. P"H/~ it is alto agllntl:

p pz ~

i I

XIii The Liherty ofProphefJing. e.6.

------~--~~--~~~~~~----~

Cap, I. the Dsetjpe of the: CouncelJ of L",diCla which took off (uch

Penances, and pronounced Ieceed Marriages to be free and law full : Nothing is more dilcrepant then the third Councell of Carthlflt and the Ceuneell of LilOdic,.c, about affignarion of the Canon of Scripture, and yet the lixth GeneraU Syaod approves both: And I would faine know if all General! Counceh are of the fame mind with the Fathers of the Councell of C~r-

thagl , who reckon into the Canon five Books of Saloma". I am hIre 5. Allft;,. reckoned but three, and I think all Chrirlendome belide are of the fame opinion. And if we look into the title of the Law 4e CONc;liis , called CO'1CDrd~nti" diflQrd(n.

tiarlltrn, we fhall find inflances enough to confirm that the De. crees of'fome Councels are contradictory to others and that no wit can reconcile them: .And whether they did ~r no that they might difagree, and former Councelsbe correded by la. rer, was the beliefe of the Dodors in thofe Ages in which the beH and moll famous Councels were conven'd, as appears in that. t~mous {'ayiD!? of S. Auf/in fpeaking concerning the reo baptizing of Herericks ; and how much the cA!,.icllnr were de. cei ved in that Q!:!_efiion, he anfwers the Allegation of the Bi-

(hops Letters, and thOle National! Councels which confirmed S.CyprillN! opinion by faying that they were no nnaH determination. For Epiflopmll11 'iter~ ","nd,.ri FDffill1t 4 CONci/iio 1M. tiofllll;llIIl, Cuncilia "IItiO"AliII a plenariil, ;pfoi plenaria prim:

dt}offcr~ori6NI emend",;. Not only the occalion of the Q.:!.e· fl·lDn being a matter not of faa, bur of Faith as being infl~nc'd in the Q!!,efiioD of rebaptization : but alfo the very fa. brick and a:conomy of the words, put by all the anlwers of thofe me,n who think t~emJelves pre lied with the Authority of S.v!ujhn. For as Nationall Councels may correCt the Bifhops Letters, and Generall Couneels may correce Narionall , 10 the later General! may correct the former, {hac is, have contrary and better Decrees of manners. and better determinations ill rnaw;rs of faith. ~nd from hence hath rifcn a Q!!eHion whe[her IS to be received toe former or the later Councels, in cafe they conrradiCt: each other. The former are nearer the fountaines Apollolicall, the later are of greater conJideration ; The.firft, have more Authority, the later more reafon The

:lir!!, ~~t?0£~ !ene~a~!e ~ !4~ !a~e~~lo~~ ~n'.ll1iJ!!i~~ and

L.t7,dc cul. Dd:,c.'to.

L.t.de b~rt. Jl)onat.c.~.

§.6.

The Liherty of ProphefJing.

And now what rule (hall we have to determine our beliefes, whether to Authority, or Reafon, the Reafon and the Authority both of them not being the highetl in their kinde, both of them being repudiable, and at moll but probable P And here it is that this great uncertainty is fuch as not to determine any body, but fit to ferve every body j and it is fport ro fee that

B,1I4rmillll will by all meanes have the Councell of CaTthA_'(1I [.,2. de Cone. preferr'd before the Councell of Laodie4., beeaufe it is later, and e. 8. § refpon, yet he preferres the fecond .NifeN4 * Councel! before the Coun- ~e() ,in primi s, cell of F,",,/ifNrt, becaufe 1t IS elder: S. vluftill would have c IJJrti§ de [he former Generals to be mendedby the later j but ljid6rll in [C~:Cl 10 augMt;an [ayes when Councels doe dIffer .f}andum tffi "ntiquisri· Dill ac.Can, blu, the elder muO: carry it : And indeed rhete probables are Domino San. buskins (0 ferve every foot, and they are like mlfgllilm & par'll"m, ao.

they have nothing of their own , all that they have is in com-

pariion of others; [0 thefe topicks have nothing of refolure and

dogmatical! truth, but in relation to Iiich ends as an interefled

penon bath a mind [0 ferve upon them.

5" There are many COUflCelS corrupted, a_nd many preten, Nu",G. 9, ded and alledged, when there were no fuch things, both which

make the topick of the. Authority of Councels ~o b~ little and inconliderable : There IS a Councell brought to light 111 the edi,

rion of Councels by Bini,", viz. Sinvej[anup», pretended to be

kept in the year ;03, but it was fo private till to en , that we

find no mention of it in any ancient Record: Neither EufihiU!,

nor Run:"u!,S Hiersm, nor SocraUI, So:r..omm, nor 1"htodortt ,

1J' " d k o' f'i d I Id 11. • Pro [ cum

nor eH!T~p'lIf! n_or Be e new any t I~ 0 It, ~n t ie e en effcr h boll',

allegation of It IS by Pope 'NJchol~j I, ll_l toe nlI~th Centur¥. Per(arum] Ie. And he thadhall ccntiderthat 300 BIfilOPS 10 the midii of horrid gi volnnr! cum Perfecutions (for fo then they were) are prel.ended to. have con- ret'elti~s eflet i: ven'd, will need no greater Argument to fUlpea: t?e Impoflur~; ~~~~.IE~~~t beGdes, be that was the framer of the eneme did nor lay hIS ChYo~i /,,~ ends together handfomely , for it is (aid that the depofition of Binill~o i~v~:. Mofrccllinm by (be Synod was told to 'lJioc!et;an. when he was tir a1 Coneil. in the !'u{iJln Warre, when as it is known before that time he sjnllc,7;mu~. had retum'd to Rome, and triumph'd for his Perf." Conquefl as Tom.l.con"l.

E r. • hi Ch . I d hi ." " 0 Jj" 1& Baron. An« uftoillJlo 15 rOnIC e reports: An t IS IS d'D plaID t at. ,mUd! nal, rom, J.

and.Bilronillf pretend the Text to be corrupte ,& to go t? men .. A.D.30;.II11P,.,o .c,

'.' ... - ... l' 3 It Itl;.

: i

lls---------rhe LihertJ of Prophefying.

'~.6~

----

-~··-·------'--itbytuch an emendation a~ is a plain cont.radi~ion to the

!en!e, and that fo un-clerk-like, 'lJi~. by pUUIDB rn two words and leaving out one, which whether it may be allowed them

1.1,101" J4. by any licence leffe then Poeticall ler Criticks judge. S.GY1lory

",I Nail,,,,, faith that the Con{la1Jth,opolit,,"s had corrupted tbe Synod of Chalctdon, and that he fufpetted the fame concerning the EphrJil1t Councell : And ill the fifth Synod there was a noterious prevarisarion, for there were falfe EpilHes of Pope P"igililu and c.}I{t,ma the Patriarch of ConjPllnti110plt! infected, and fo they pafled for authentick till they were difcovered in the lixth General! Synod, Actions the I J. and r 4: And not only falii:

Decrees and Attions may creep into the Codes of Councels, but fometimes the authority of a learned man may abure the Church with pretended Decrees, of which there is no CORY or

('omnj(nt.iJl~ filidow in the Code it [eIte: And thus Thomas ~'qHinal iayei [ .. lob". that the EpiHle 10 the Hebrllwes was reckoned in the Canon by the 1XJcm~ Councell , no fhadow of which appears in thofe Copies we now have of it ; and this pretence and the repuration of the man prevail'd [0 farre with M~/chi()f' (allus theIearned Bifhop of CIIl1l1riu, that he believ'd it upon this ground. Vir [ttnElII! ran adto g'a'lltm 11011 aflrNeret, NiJi cfJmpertum habllij{tt; and there are many things which have prevail'd upon lefle reafon and a more flight Authority. And chat very Councell

, Con. Ca· of Nice, hath not only been pretended by .ACjlli11lu, but velY !h'gS!. '"1"9' much abufed by others, and its Authority and great reputation b C"n.AI, iCJIl. hath made it more lyable to the fraud and pretences of idle c Ibid, c.icr, people : For whereas the Nicene Fathers made but twenty ~ L~~.{~·E'cl. C~nons,{or (0 many andno n:ore were received by' (tcililltl?t Iliil.c.o. (arthag~, that was at Nice 1Il the Councell; by S. bAllftln, e 111 princ, and aco .African Biiliopnvith him, by S. c (]rili OIAle:l:~~drill, Con,dcSYIJ(Jd. by d eAttiClI1 of (()11j1a1ltifJople, by R"ffillllS, e ljidoreand Theo.

Prine. dor.t ; as f Baror.iH! wirnefles , yet there are fourfcore lately

f narodus, ~ d out i l Mid . b

[om.lA.D. found Out In an AY(/oian • S. and publifhe in Larine y

3'5.n•156. Tllrritlli and eA/fonful o(Pifa Jefuitcs furely , and like to be

Tom.j. cd mafiers of the mint. And not only the Canons, but the very

A,D·3t,.n.6l ACts of the ?o(jt'tne Councell are lalfe and llllUious, and are 10 fl· confefled by Baroninr j though how be and;', lir/danus will be g Panopl.l.z, recoacil'd upcn the poinr, lneitber know well nor much care. td. Now

Th, Li/;m10f PropT,,/jing.

119

Now if one Councell be corrupted, we fee by the in Hance of s. qrtgory, that another may be fufpe8ed and fo all; beeaure he 'found the Councell of Cha/cedon corrupted, he fufFe8ed al(o the EphtJj,te, and another might have fufpetled more, for the N,.me was tampered fouly with, and fo three ofrhe foure Generals were fullied and made fufpicious, and therefore we could not be fecure of any; If falfe Acts be interred in cne Counce!!, who can trult the attions of any, unlelfe he had the keeping the Records himfelfe , or durlt f\vear .fonhe Reg!He~ :

And if a very learned man (as Thomlll A'l'1tHaS was,) did eriher wilfully deceive us, or was himfelfe ignorantly abated in Allegation of a Canon which was not, it is but a ~ery fallible Topick at the bell:, and the molt holy man that IS, may be' .bufed himlelfe, and the wifefr may deceive others.

6. AndlaHly, To all this and rorhe former inHances,by way of Nllm". 10

Corollary, I adde fome more parriculars in which it is nororicm- •

that Counsels Qienerall, and Nationall, that is, fuc'] as were ei-

ther General! by Originall, or by adoption into the Canon ofrhe

Catholike Church did errejand were attually deceived. The firlt

Councell of Toltd, admits to the Communion him that hath a

Concubine fo he have no wife belides, and this Councell is

approved by Pope Leo in the 92 Epitlle to Ru[tieYJ Bifhop of

N~rbQna: qrlltian fayes that the Councell meanes by a Con- Dill.;:. (~I1, cubine , a wife married .Jilte dote 6' filtl1t1itatc; but this is ouuu! ~" dawning with untemperd mortar. For though it was a cu-

!lome amongfi the jewes [0 dillinguiill Wives (rom their <!:oncubines, by Dowry and legal! Solenniries, yet rbe Chri.

llian diflinguifhed then: no othen~ile! then as law full. and

unl.wfull, then as Cbafiity and Fomication, And befides, Ifby

a Concubine is meant a lawfull wife withouc a Dowry', [0

what purpofe fhould the, CouncelJ make a Law [hat (iich a one

might be admitted to the Communion> for I fuppofe it was

never tbought to be a Law of Chriflianiry, that a man Ol'luld

have a Portion w.itb his Wife, nor he that married a poore

Virgin fhould deierve to be Excommunicare, So that qr41i~n

and his Followers are prefl fo with this Canon, that to aVOId

the impiety of it, they expound it to a !ignificalion 'withcur

fellf~ .or purpo(e~ ~ut the butineffe ~heo was, that Adultery

wan

ii

"

-~,- .. -, .. ,.-.~~-.' --.-----~--~-----

120 __ ----------T-~~L-'-~e~r~~-1~pr-D~ph~~~~t~ng=.~ __ --~§~.~ was [0 publike and notorious a practife that the Councell did thu[e rather [0 endure fimple Fornication, that by filch per. million of a lefle , [hey might flacken the publike cufiome of a 0reater, jua as at Rome they permit Stewes to prevent unnaturall finnes; But that by a publike fan6tion Fornicators, habitually and eororioufly fueh, fhould be admitted to the holy G:ommuni. on was an aa of Priefls, fo unfit for Priefls , that no excufe can make it white or deane. The Councell of Wormtl does authorize a foperflirious cufiome at that time tOO much ufed , of

dilcovcring Iloln goods by the holy Sacrament, which • A. qUlnllS juHly condemns for Superliition. The b fixth Synodfe, parates perlons lawfully married upon an accufacion and crime of hereiy : The Roman Counce11 under c Pope Nkh'/lfs II. defin'd that not only the Sacrament ofChriits body, but the very body it felle of our blefied Saviour is handled and broke by the hands of the P riefl , and chewed by the teeth of the

Communicants, which is a manifel] errour derogatory from the truth of Chrills beatificall Re(urreetion, and glorification in the Heavens, and difavowed by [he Church of Rome it [elfe:

But Br/{armillf that aniwers al1 the Arguments in the world, whither it be poflible or not pollible, would faine make the matter faire, and the Decree tolerable, for fayes he, the Decree

meanes that the body is broken not in it fc:lfe but in the fign, and yet the Decree fayes that not only the Sacrament (whieh if any thing be, is certainly the fign) but [he very body it (eire is broken and champed with hands and teeth reljleCl:ively; \V hich indeed was nothing but a plaine over- aCting the Article in contradiction to BerclIgariHf. And the anlwer of Bellar· mine is not Ienfe , for he denies that the body it {elfe is broken in it felfe ([hat was the errour we charg'd upon the Roman Synod) and the {j~n abflra6l:ing from the body is not broken, (lor that was the opinion that CounceJl condemn'd in DereN. garltls) but Iayes n,l/armiNf, the body ill the fign ; What'! that? for neither the fign, nor the body, nor both together are broken: For if either of them diflill6tly , they either rulh upon the errour which the R?man Synod condemn'd in B~. rengariNf, or upon that which they would fain exeu(e In Pope N/~holi1l; but if both are broken then 'tis true to affir~

. I.

" 1'"t.l.'1 So; :>.6. ad 3m.

b Cal1.7!.

,< Can e~o Bercngar, de cor.fccr:lt.Ji{l.

1:b ••. c.s.de Concil,

111

~.6.

it of eith~r" and t~en [he C?ullcell is blafphemous in f~yjng that Chnfi 5 .glorrfi~d body IS pallible and frongib!e by narurail manducation . So t~a[ it _is ~nd it is not, it is not this way, and yet It :s 1)0 wayelle~hut lt IS fome way, and [hey know not ~ow , and the Councell i~oke blafphl:my. bur it mull be made lOllcce~t ; and.tberefore, It was requi{ite a cloud of a diainai~ on Ihou.d be raifed , that [he unwary Reader migbt be amufed, and theD~,crt'e tcape untouchr, but the truth is, they that undertake to ;ul'l,fie ,aU rhar other men fay, mult be more tubtle then they that !;:,d 1[; ~nd tr.urt 'l'e ti.ch diitinctiora which pollibly [be fir!* Authors did not ~N!crHan~. B .. t I will multiply no more I~ltances. for. wh~t Int~.lfJC,:: Ioever J !hall bring, lome or

otb~r WIll be all~l\'erlDg It, which ~bing is 10 farre from fnicfyil1g • '

me In the parriculan , [hat I[ increafes the diff.culty in the " lib ,kmw>I

11 d f. 'fi ' CIS I'Id.II""·

gellera ,an .:tIS es me In my fidl beliere . For' if no De- cJa~ & C~Il;

crees o~ CO~flcels can make ag~jDit them though they fecme cdia quo" in never to plain agalnft [hem, then let others be allowed the run tiiam f,fame liberty, (and there is all the rea ton in the world they ciunr ; rchqua fhould) and no Decree Ihall conclude againfi any Doctrine.rhar r:~~ plum

h h I d . 'd b . ) xl'l.mnt

~ ey ave a re.a y entertain ; and y this meanes the Church quam C011VCi!-

IS no liner inlirument to Decree Controvenies then the tum WIlier. ~crip[U[e it lelfe, there being as much obicuriry and dilpu[ing c~l.J:U'~ i,". In the Ienfe, and the manner, ancil the dearee and the compe- C,XtJl:l.1 hi

t d h bli . f h l:> .' .hcnnl,.Lu,/J ency , an teo l~a[Ion 0 t e Decree of a Councell as of (" . '.'~'

I f Scri ~ , l,m,lIISc-o//; ~ pace 0 ~crlpture. A~d whar are we the nearer for a Decree, 1'&"0. Allg d~

If any Soph~tter fhall think his elufion enough to conteti againH Civil. u c/o t~e Authority ?f a Cou~cel1? y~t this they doe, that pretend C ~,.

~Ighe.£l for their Authoruy, which confideration or lome like

it might pollibly make Grl!liiln preferre S HierollJ's finale 36~ q, t. c. r1z• TeHimony before a whole Councell , beGau(e hee had ScriP. CUlt.

ture ,of hIS ~de ; which fayes, that the Authority of Coun-

'eels IS .Ilo~ <turom,@-, and t~at Councels may pollibly recede

frcm their Rule. from Scriptnre ; and in that cafe , a (inele

pel~on proceeding acqmdi?g to Rule is a better Argumem i

which indeed was the'[~yIDg of 'P""srmitall, ill cOllcernmti;Hf 'P~rt.r. de de. ftde~ .~tl"lfJ diEhm) flnjHs privllti rJJu dtao Pap~ aNt tot,fll ~:on, Et clcci, Concillt pr'£fer~l1dflm, pille rmverttur meJiorWHt e.4r<rn. ? tefi~ C3p. m~l1tis. 0"- ugm ncaJt~

, ,

! !J

I

----.~.--._~_-_ .. _-----------_

The Libuoty of Prophefjing.

Nltmb. I I. I end this. Dif~our[e. with reprefendng the words of q-;;g;;; Arbauat.lib.de ]Vaz,jaH:(.etI In hIS Epifile to Procopllil; Ego Ii oer« fcrJbtr~ ~~"uJ. Fruth oportet: itll animo "/fifl11t fum, Ht omniA Epi[coporum COllci!ia Jglt~l' CHcUm- fi'JIJin11), 'luonillm ,mlljflt C§ncilii jinem 1£l(11) fauftuma vidi curhranrcs 6 ir: ,. . Ii: <J' p,.:l!texunt 0& nee quod d'pu~tomm "'lilOr,."! potlNJ quam "CC~JjIOl1em & ;l1cre_

ridcm fe Syno- mmtllm habmrit : But I will not be [0 revere and dogmatical! des puiluhte, againfl: them: For I believe many Councels to have been cald cum {itOi.-inl with illfficient Authority, to have been managed with lingular SC~,ptU,.a om- piety and prudence, and to have been finifhed with admirable ;;~r~ts puten_ Iuccefie and truth. And where we find Iuch Councels , he

tbar will nor with all veneration believe their Decrees, and receive their {ancEons, underitand_s not that great duty he owes to them who have the care of our Joules, whofe faith we

Uc!\IJ'7' are bONnd to follow (faith s. P'lItl) that is Io long as they fol-

low Chrifi, and certainly many Councels have done fo ; But thi~ was then when the publike inrereti of Chrillendome wac better conferv'd in determining a true Article, then in finding a difcreer temper, or a wife expedient to Iarisfie difagreeing perfons, (As the Fathers at Trent did; and the Lutheranr and C(llvinijiJ did at Sendomir in Talonia; and the Sub!lZp[ariAn~ and Supralap[ari.w did at Dort t ; It was in Ages when the fumme of Religion did not conlia in maintaining the qYiIn_ de:('>:'11 of the Papacy , where there was no order of men with a fourth Vow upon them to advance S. Peters Chaire , when there was no man, nor any company of men, chat efleem'd themfelves infallible, and therefore they Iearched for truth as if they meant to find it, and would believe it if they could fee it prov'd , not rerolv'd to prove it becaufe they had upon chance or iatereli believ'd it; then they had rather have {poken a rrurh , [hen upheld their reputation, but only in order to rruth. This was done fometimes, and when it was done God's Spirit never fail'd them , but gave them Inch affiHances ~s were' fufficiem [0 that good end for which they were Afiembled, and did implore his aid: And therefore it is that the foure 1i.eneraIl Councels (o called by way of eminency l have gained io great a reputation above all others, nor becaule rhey had

<:I better promife, or more fpeciall afliiiances , but bwmfe [hey proceeded better according to the Rule, with Icfle

faCtion

Ii

The Liberty of prophefjing.

-----------------

fa~ioD, without ambition and rernporall ends.

And yet thole very Alfemblies of Bilhops had no Autho, 'N:...um~ I2.

rity by their Decrees to make a Divine Faith, or to conHiture •

new objeClsof necelfary Credence; they made nothing true rim

was not fo before, and therefore they are to be apprehended in

the nature of excellent Guides, and whofe Decrees ate moti

certainly [0 determine all thofe who have no Argument to the

contrary of greater force and efficacy then the Authority or

reaf?ns ot: the Councell, A~d there is . a duty owing to every

Panlh P riel], and to every Dioecefan Bilhop; thefe are appoin-

ted over us and [0 anfwer for our Ioules, and are therefore mo-

rally to guide us. as reaionable Creatures are to be guided, that

is, by reaton and difcourfe: For in things of judgement and underHanding • they are but in Forme next above Beafls , that

are to be ruled by the imperioufnefle and abfolutenefle of Au-

thoriry, unlefle the Aurhoriry be Divine, that is, infallible.

Now then in a juficr height J but Hill in its true proportion. Aflemblies of Bifhops are to guide us with a higber Aurho,

rity, becaufe in reaf n it is (uppoii:d they will doe it better

with more Argument and certainty, and with Decrees, whid;

hare the advantage by being the refulrs of many difcour(es

of very wife and good men: But that the Authority of ge-

nerall Councels , was never etleem'd abfolute, infallible and

unlimired , appears in this, that before they were obliging, it

was neceflary that each particular Church relpectively Ihould

accept them. Concurrente univerf1!; totius Eccle;."1i ilnfonfu,&c. Vid. S.At:gurl. in decl<lrlltiol1c verit(ltHf1I 'lH" cred .. ,d~ I,mt &c. That's the way ~.). c. 18. de of making the Decrees of Councels become authentik, and dP~,c[o"tr.

be turn'd into a Law as Gerfdn obierves , and till they did, their 0 a. Decrees were but a dead letter (and therefore it is that rhete

later l-opes have fo labour'd, that [he Councell of Trem fhould • S d'd ! > b . d i F dOl· me

e receive III renee j an Carolul c...7Yfolll1euJ a great Lawyer, third Eflare of

and of [he Roman Communion, difpured • again!t the rccep- FMice In the ~Ion.) and this is a known condition in the Canon Law, but CeO, enuon of It proves p!ainly that the Decrees of Ceuncels have their Au. rl.: rh.ee E. th . fi h j Ji:.1.. 'Ii ' I . I Ch b fta.e , under

omy rom t evo untary uvmli 101l0t me particu ar . urc ,esJ L . zs rhe 131

nor from the prime Iancticn and confiiruuon of the Councell, e'~~'iljy '():,~ And there is great ~rearo.Ll it fhould , for as the reprcientarive [end "gainfi Jr,

Q..!. body

Q.6.

,i:

7;he Liberty ofPropb~fjing.e.l}.

---, -------.~ - .. ~

body of the Church derives all power fr?m the diffufiv~ ~q, which is -reprefenred.vfo It re[?!ves !nCO It, and though It may have all the legall power, yet It hath nor .all the naturall , lor more able men may be unfenr.tlien lent; and they who are Cent may be wrought upon by rlratagem , which cannot happen to the whole diffuf ve Church i it is therefore moll fit that !inee the legal! power, that is, the external! was pafled over to the body reprelernativc , yet the efficacy of it, and the internal! Ihculd 10 flill rernaine in the diffufive, as to have power to conlider whether {heir reprefcntatives did their dUly yea or no, and fa to proceed accordingly : For unleffe it be in matters of juflice, in which the inrereil of a third perfon is concern'd, 110 man w ill. or can be fuppofed [0 pafle away all power from him. [cite of doing him!e;fe right, in matters perfonall.proper, and of fo high concernmenr : It is moHlll1naturall and unrealonable. But betides, that they are excel.enc illHrume.ts of peace, the bed humane J udicarories in the world, rare Sermons for [he dererminiog a poiot in Controverfj.and the greareR probability from h11lrlane Authority, betides thefe advantages (l fay) ] know nothing greater diat generall Councels can pretend [0 with reafon and Argument lufficie[lt to liuisfie any wife mall: And as there was never any Counsell [0 generall , but itmight have been ~or~ generall j for in. relped: of the whole Church, even Ni'6 it !elfe was but a [mall Affembly; (0 there is no Decree [0 well conilituted, bur it may be prov'd by an Argument higher then the Authority of the Councell: And therefore generall Councels, and Nationall, and Provinciall,and Dioecefan in their feverall degrees, are excellent Guides for the Prophets and directions and inHruCliol15 for their Pro. pheii'iDg!, but nor of weight and Authority to reflraine their Liberty 10 wnoly, but that rhey may ditlem when they fee a reafoa thong enough fo to penwade them, as to be willing up. on [he confidence of [hat reafon and their own fillcerity, to lln[wer to God for fuch their modeHy,and peaceable, but (:.l$ ~hey believe) their 1lI:~efiary diragreeing e ,

I:

;; i

The Li/;ert) of ProphefJing.

SECT. VII.

Of the !altf./;ility of the' Pope, and tle amertailJt) of his Expounding Scriptrere, lind refoivil'Jg JiLueftions.

BUt fince rhe <l!!_efiion between the Councelland rhe Pope NII11JG • .ij'~ grew high, there have not wanted abettors fo confident on

the Popes behalfe, as to believe Geaerai! Counce:!s to be no-

thing but Pomper and Solennities of [be Catholike Church,

and that all- the Anthoricy of determining Controverfies is

f()rmally and eiletinalJy in the Pope. And therefore [0 appeale

from the Pope [0 a futureCounceli is a her~fy, yeayand Trea-

{on too [aid Pope PiNI II, and therefore It concerns us now Epi,lt,ad t!ilI~' to be wife and wary. But before I proceed, I muH needs re- rUlIDerg. member chat Pope PiNS II, while he was the wife a?d learned Parrum & :I"' V£ne~f S,ivi1U, was very confident for the preheminence of a vorum no-

C II d ,. h Cl k e e for Ilrorem rern«-

ounce ,an gave a merry rea on wymore er s w r ' I .

h [ h b lore paucr au.

the Popes then the Councell , tough rue trut was on t e d.bant dicere

other fide, even becaufe the Pope gives Bifhopricks and Ab- Paparn elfe beys, but Councels give .none; and yet as Coone as he was Iupra Conci~. made Pope ~5 if he had been infpired, his eyes were open (0 h~:n.I·"1;

r: th ' . i1 d f Ch . hi h bef h g~I·IS cencil,

lee e great pnv e ges a S.Pererf atre s . w .1C .ore e Ba[i/.

could not fee, being amufed with the truth; or elfe with the reputation of a General! Councell, But however! there a~e many that hope to make it good, that the Pope IS the LlniveriaU and the infallible Dodor , that he breathes Decrees as Oraclesthat to diffenr trom any of his Calhedrall.dete.rmil1a~

tions is ablolute herefy , the Rule of Faith being nothing el(e

but conformity to the Chaire of Pew·, So that here we have

met a refiraint of Prophecy indeed; but yet to make amends,

1 hope we !hall have an infallible .Guide, and when ~ man rs

ill Heaven, he will never ccmplaine thac his choyce ~ taken

from him and that he is conan'd to love and [0 admire, Iince,

his love a;d his admiration is fixt, upOn (hat which makes.

him happy, even upon God himfelfe, And in the C;hu~ch of

~0111~ there is in a lower degree, but in a true propo.moo: as

ltttle caltli:·[o be. troubied 1 .that we art confin'd [Q believe Jut\

--. Q...3 [0,

The Lihert, of ProphefjiNg.

fo, and no choice left us for our nnderltal'ldillgs to difcover or our \'Vilis to cbute, becaufe though we be limited, yet we are pointed out where we ought to reli , we are confin'd to our «enter, and there where our underflandings will be fatisfied and therefore will be quiet, and where after ail our !hivings; {ludies and endeavours we defire to come, that is, to truth, for there we are fecur'd to find it, becaufe we have a Guide that is infallible: If this prove true, we are well enough. But if it be (alfe or uncerrain , it were better we had Hill kept our liberty, then be cozened out of it with gay pretences. This then we muR conlider.

'l'{jm'Jb. 2. And here we thaJl be oppreffed with a cloud of Witnelfes:

For what more plaine then the CommilFon given to Peter! Tbo« art Peter, and upon this Rock. Ivil! I uNild my Church. And to thee will I give the Keyts. And agaill, for thee have I prayed Ihat thy faith fllile not; bllt thou when thlu art con'll"ted cm(jrm thy bretbren ; And again, If thOH 10ve)1 me feed m) jhttp : 'Now nothing of this being jpoken to any of the other Apofiles, by one of thefe places S. Peter mull needs be appointed Foundation or Head of the Church , and by confequence he is to rule and govern all. By fome other of there places he is made [he (iipreme Paiior, and he is to reach and determine all, and inabled with an infallible power fo to doe; And in a right llncierltandillg of rhe(e Authorities, the Fathers fpeak great things of the Chaire of Pew' ; for we are as much bound [0 be-

, Irenz , con- lieve that all this was jpoken to Peter« Succetfors ," as to his m.lmtr. 1.3· Perfon , that ITIuLl by all meanes be firppoled, and [0 did the !.3i.n,br. de old Doctors, who had as much certainty of it as we have, and o'iim Salpi,& no more; but yet let'shear what they have faid, a To thil chflrch I. I. EI'.~' ad by ret/Jon of itl more powerfull principali'l, it i& nf~JJ4'J all Imp.Cypr. Ep. Churcbn round ,,/mit jhould Convene: ., ••• In thit, Tradition ~lC E v1poflolicallllb~ay(l 11''''S o6for'llcd, (mdthertfore to c~mlJ1Itnicatc add!r~},n. Ivit/) this Btjhop with tbis • Chllrch, wal to !J .. in Commltl1iolJ e S.AuOin, in with the Cinrcb Catholik!: •..• b To this Church errasr or Pial, contra, perfidioltpJfJTe ca11not hU'IIe acceffi: •••• C .Againjl thi< Sell the 1'",,('",,1)OJl31 • .(lIto of Hell cennot prtvaile ..•••• d For we !'!'DW fhit Cbnrch ~ Hi:r~. Fp. to 6e I"'ift lipan II Roclz,: •••• .And whoevlr ellff the bm6 !,;;;,~" ''''''- not H'ilh;n tbi: H01ljt, if prophrmc; he thaI· il ,lit i~ t/1# Ar~. of

Noab

Th, Liherty of PrQphefying.

Noal<! perifon in the ;1I*n«al;l111 of w.aters. If" thllt gllth,,.s net with this BI{hep h, fo(mer!; and h, that be/ongeth tlDI til Chrift. mllft needs belong to .Anlich,.ij!. And that'S nis fi~all Ienrence :

But if you wouid have all this prov'd by an infallible Argu-

menr, e Opt4tuS of UJ{i/efJit in Africa fuppJies it to us from c r .. ~.contr3: the very name of Peter : For therefore Chrifl gave him the Parmrnian, cooncminatiQn of Cephall-d .f "'0"";;" [0 thew that S. PeW'

\V~ the vilible Head of the Catholike Church. Dif.l1l11» pat,lIa

operculum! This long harangue muA: needs be full of tra-

gedy to all them that rake liberty to themfelves to follow

Scripture and their bell Guides, if it happens in that liberty

that they depart from the perfwafions or the Communion of

Rome: But indeed, if with the peace of the Bilhops of Rome

I may fay ir , this Scene is the mofl unhandfomely laid, and

the worLl carried of any of thofe pretences that have lately

abufed Chritiendome,

J. Againlt the Allegations of Scripture, I Ihalllay no grea- Nm~;'. :,' ter prejudice then this, that if a perf on dif .. imereHed IllOulcl

fee [hem, and conlider what the produds of them might pof-

6bly be, the lalt thing that he would think of. would be how

rhat any of thefe places [hould ferve the ends or pretences of

the Church of Rome: For to inflance in one of [he particulars,

[hat ITIan had need have a Hrong fancy who imagines that be-

caufe Chrifi pray'd for S. 'Paer , that (being he had de{jgn'd

him to be one of thofe upon whofe preaching and Dcctrioe he

did meane to, conliirure a Cburch) th"t /:;il f .. ,ith might .not

f~ilr, (for it was neceflary that no bitrernefle or HoppIng

Ihould be in one of the firli Iprings, leaf] the current be either

fpoil'd or obHrutled) that therefore the faith of Pope AlexAII-

der VI, or Gregor} • or Cltm,nt 1500 years after> Ihould be

be preierved by venue of that prayer, w~ich the forme of

words, the rime the occation, the manner or [be addrerle, [he

effed it felfe, and all the circumflances of the act ion and per-

fon did determine to be perfonall : And when it was more then "X,q~; a. $. perfonall, S.Peter did not reprefenr his Succeflors at Rome, but ar,6.ad 3m• the whole Carholike Church, fayes "9uiflli.f and the Divine,

of the Univcrlity of Paris, Volemt enim »ro fo!a Becleli/! eJTe L.l• ~e Ro- , Qratllm,{~yesBQllflrm;'IQof them, and the glolfe upon the Canon man.lo~""3'

Law ~ ),

I 28 T_h_c_L_'_·4e_l'ty Of Prop~eJyj~g' _:_§..!_'7'

Law plainly denies the effeCt of this prayer at all to apperrain io Cauf. 110 up. the Pope; ~re de 'lila Eeclejia ilmll,t'll 'l~od Hoc d,cttur quod a recta. '1. I. IIDn poJ!it errere , ji de ipfo Papa "I"i Eee/efta diei/uy 'i IJ emum ~9.dln. Ana. eft ~Nqd P .. ~a errer« potejf ••• : Re(pondeo jpJA {~"grega!io ftaCl1l5.60.dift. fideitHm bic d'Cltllr EecleJi'" 6' IIf/1! ecclefa nDn pDtefl nbn eft, fi 1'.11'" 'Iff") tpfo ']Jomin,,; ar<'lt 11'0 e ccleji!J, c5- 'i)'olTmtate /,,6jol'um [110.

rum non fr4l1da6ilur. But 'there is a little danger in this Atgument when we well confider it j. but ir is likely to redound on the head of them whofe turns It lhould ferve : For it may be remembred that for all this prayer of Cliria for S.Pttcr, the good man fell fouly, and denyed his Mafier thamefully: And {hall Chrifls prayer be of greater efficacy for his Succeflors, (or whom ic was made but indiredly and by confequence, then for himfelfe, for whom it was dire&ly and in rhe hrll intention? An~ if not, then f~r all ~his Argument , the Popes may deny Chritl as well as their cheife and Deceffor Peter, Bur it wouk:! noe be forgotten how the Roman Doctors will by no meaner allow (hat S.Pa,r was thea the chiefe Bifhop or Pope when he denyed his Malter. But (hen much lefle was he ~hofen chiefe Bifhop, when the prayer was made for him, becaufe the praye r was made before hi, falJ; that is, before thar time in which it is confefled, he was not as yet made Pope: And how then the whole SuccelTion of the Papacy ihould be inti tied to !t, pafles the lengrh of my hand to fpan. But then alfo if It be ftlppofed and allowed, that thefe words thall intaile infallibility upon the Chaire of Rome, why fuall not alia all [re ApoHolicall Sees bee infilIJibJe as well as RIme? why (ball not ()nfla1l/iNop/e or BJ,,"flnti{lm where S.Andrew fate? why fhall not Epht[tu where S. John rare > or Jlrufo/em where S.]a;lUf fate? for Chrilt prayed for (hem ~1J. Nt Pilter fol1[/ift~ curet eos [e« v<ritau, Joh. T7'

Nllmb. 4' 2. For [/;6i dllbo e.'avCl, J was it perfonalJ arnot? If it

w~~e, (hen [he Bllnops of Rome have no hing (0 doe with it.:

It It were not, the~ by what Argument will it be made eVIdent tint S.P tt~ .. , In the promije reprefenred only his Sue' ce~jors, ami not ~~e whole Co!ledge of ApoHles, and the whole Hierareby P FO!J:S.F~!~rwaschi~fc of the Apotiles.and Head or the Churcb,helmght tarre enough be the reprefentarive of (he

whole

The Lib,rty of PTopb,fjing.

whole Colledge, and receive it in their right as well as hi~ own : which alfo is' certain that it was fo, for (he fame promite ofbinding and loafing; (which certainly was all rhar the keyes ·were given for) was made afterward to all the Apoflles, UJ{at. 18. and the power of remitting and retaining which in reafoe and according to the Rile of the Church is the fame thing in other words, was aciually given to all the ApoHles, and unleHe that was the performing the firlt and Iecond promife, we find it net recorded in scripture how or when or whether yet or no, the promi.c be performed: That promife I fiiy which did nor perraine lO Pete1' principally and by origination, and to the reft by Communication, .Iociery and adherence ,but that promife which was made to Peter firfl, btu not for himlelte , but for all the Colledge.and for all their Succeflors, and then made the fecond time: (0 them all. without reprefemarion.but in diffufion, and perform d (0 all alike in pretence except S. Th~mlli. And if he went to S. Pet« r to derive it trom him, I know not ;1 find no record for that, hut that ChriH convey'd (he promiie 10 him by the lame Commiffion, the Church yet never doubted, 110r had fhe any reafon, But this matter if roo notorious:

I lay no more to it, bur repeat the words and Argument of

s . .du/lin,:::;' hoc Fetro tll>;t"". dill«", eft, nonf.n:it hoc E~c/ef": T'3.50. ". If the Keyes were only given and fo promiied to S!Pmr, that Ioanu,

the Church hath not the Keyes, thea the Church can neither

bind nor looie , remit nor reraine, which God forbid; if any

man fhould endevour to anlwer this Argument, I leave him

and S.t..A "fli" to contefl it.

,. For pafo, fVtJ there is little in thac Allegation. betides NlfflIb. s' the boldneffe of (he Ohje8:ors; for were not all the Apo!tlel

bound to feed Chrifl's lheep? had theyncr all the Commiflion

from Chrifr, and Chritl's Spirit immediately? S. PIIlIl had cer-

tainly ; did not S. Peter himielfe lay to all the Bifhops OfPD»-

fIJI, qal.ali ... C"ppadOCIII, vlft", and Bithini .. , that they Ihould

feed the flock of God; and the great Bifhop and Shepheard

Ihould give them an immarcefcible Crownj plainly implying,

chat from whence they derived their Authority, from him they

were fure of a reward: In purraance.of which S. CJpria» laid

his Argument uPOI1 this balls, Nllm cNm ftllt"tum pnmnwul L'.I.li.pifi."

. R mb;s

,<, I

"--<~~.-<-< ---------------_

The Lihert) ef Propbe!ji»g.

Q.1.

IID!Jil,&C. & jingMlirllljllJri/JlIs pmkgregil,&".Did tlOtS.P~ to the Bifhops of Ephefiu to feed the flock of God , of which [he holy 6hoft hach made them Bifhops or Over-Ieersz and [hat tbis very Commifllon was {poken to Ptter not in a perfclllall, but a publikecapacity, and in him (peke to all the Apoftles we fee at-

l): ~gone celled by S, Vllljlm, and S. A",hvfo and gooecally by all AnChrilli.c·3°· tiquity; and it 10 concern'd even every PrieR: that DII","fo, was ~i11ing enough t? have: S.H"'·o~ explicate many queHioDs for him. Al'Id LlberlUl wnres an EplfiJe to v./tblln"jiur with Jl'jn,ndAth~- much modeHy requiring his advice in a Q!;.eHion of Faith,

!\af. apud ~l'd. x.a,J f8i'l1~/~' (; aIJctxpE7m" ~' ii, .~tol~ XEA£I!t.,p ""'. ~t~:n;f.;c~; Tbar I alfo may he per{waded without all doubting of thofe 'fif. (l 4 ' .- things which you {hall be pleafed ro commaad me. Now Lt,

_., < "erillr needed not to have troubled himfelfe to have writ into

the Ealt to AlhA""(iIlI; fOJ: if he had but feared himfelfe in his Chaire , and made the dictate, the refult of his pen and inke WORld certainly have taught himand all rhe Church' but that the good Pope Waf ignorant that either pafte ,,//,; was his own Charter. and Prerogative. or d13unyother words of Scripture had made him [0 be in&lIible, or if he was not ignorant of ir , be did very ill to complement himfelti: out of it. So did all chofe Biihops<>f R~ that in that tmublefome and unprofitable QaeHion<Jf Ea8er. beillg un1irisfied in the fl1pplu8eiouof the EgJPtM"',andthe. de1illitians of the Mathematical; Biihops oLvlk:.:a"Jrill, did yet require and intrea[

1,1~J:~pill.S3; S.Arn6rofetoceUthem his opi~ioD,ashe himli:lti: wiuJeffes; 1£ lilifu ,O'1les belongs only [0 the Pope by primary title, in tbefe cafesrhe fheep came to feed the Shepherd. which though it was well enough in lhe thing. is <veil}' ill for the precmlions of the Roman Biihops; and ifweconGderhow little m:my of rlle Popes have done toward feedwgtbe lheepof Cbrill, we iJ;a11 hardly derermiae which. i. the gr~ater pret'aricatioD, thllt the Popeili()Illd claime the whole Commiffion to be grante-d to hiro, or tha t the execurionof the COD'lmiH'lOD ihould be w~oJ!y pan-ed. over to other,; and it may be were is 3 my' 11ery dJlllt. {.bat [UlCe S. THw {em a Bifhop with hi, dafti: (0 raile upa DiICiple:cfhis frGM tbe dead. "bo W8) :afrcrward Wi,lhop of T ritrs_.~he Popes ilfR«1I.~. IXl1Cll weare .a Pa!wraJl

.. ~~

1;0

The Li6my Qf p~Q,hm;ng. '31

--~~~~~ .~~~=-~=---~~

fiaffe except it ~'il1 thae Di~lfe (f~ycs'~,~illlfl) for greee

rearoD tha~ he who dee. nat .dee the office,lhould not beare the M.".Senl,dil. 'Symbol; but a man WOQld think that the Popes Mailer of the li. Ceremonies was ill advifed no~ to alligne a Pailorall flaKe to

him. who pretend~ the Cotllmiffion of pAfo6 rrm [0 belong

[0 him by prime right and originatioa. But this is not a buli.

nefle [0 be merry in.

But the great fupp<U't is expeCl:ed from Till " P,ttlll' & filllr N,""". I. <h.IIC PHr •• ~fi, .. 60 Ecd,j.,.. e!r,. Now there hein,; fe, great

difference in ehe expofition of thero word" by perfons dif-imer-

relfec!,who, if any, might be allowed te judge in this <l.!!.e(tion,

it is certain that neither one lenfe nor other can be oberuded f()l

ID Article of faith, much leffe as a Cathelicon iafiead of all, by

(ontlituting an Allehochy which Ihould guide us in 1111 Faith, and

determine us in all Qll,eftioDs: For if the Church was not built

upon the perfon of Pm,., then his Sueeeffors I:3n cballenge no-

thing from this inHanee; now that it was the '''DfeffioD of p",~

upon which the Church was to rely for ever, we bavewir- a Ad Ph'l _ nelfes veryecedible,a S.lglllltiUI,S.bB41, • S.HiliV'l, d S.qr.gorJ delph. I a < N,f!ell. e S.G"g") the GrC!at, i S.ANjI;~ s s. eJl'ill of A/ex- b :'clcuc.erat; ~Ndri", h lfidart.! P~hlft~,and very many more. A~d although all :5. . Ihefe witnetfos concuIIlngcanno[ make a propolltIOD to be trill:, .1.,. de Tfl~ yet tbey are !,ufiicient witne!les, that it war n~[ the Univerfall ~ltD. Trini_ beliefe of Chnf!endome that the Church was bUIlt upon. S.P'!~~1 tate advcrf; perfon. Cardinali Pe,ru hath a fine ~ancy to e!u?et!m vanet), Iudaos, . of Expo fit ion. and the coofequent1 of It j For ( faIth he) rhere e L.3,Ep; H· ~xpolitions are not contrary or exciuliyc of each othor. bur I~~~.:;.I~~h. inclufive and confeqllent to each other: For the Chgrch IS s t)e Tr inir; founded cauralIy<upon the confeffion of S/Pem, formally upon 1.4.

the mininry of his perfon, and this w~s a reward or a confe- h L.I.Ep'''3~· queDt of the former: So that thc:ie Expolitlons are both

true, but they are conjoyn'd as mediate ama immediate, di-

rect and collaterall, literall and morall , originall and perperuall,

accC!ifory and temportll, the one confign'd at the begin~ing,

the other innoduc'd I:lpon occafion I For before the !prl11g of

ihe oAi'yiAn berely , the llathcflexpollndeJ rhetewords cf the

perfon of Peur , hut alter thetAr~i"nl troubled them ; the

Pathen findillg great ,Authrui,y • and tru1-g} in this confi:tIinn

R ~ of

" Epj(t, ad Philodelph. In C.IG. Mat. ilra:i.r.

Thl! L ibtrty of P ropbe{ying.

of 'Peter for the eHabli(hmen~ of the natural] filiation of the Son of God, to advance [he reputation of [hele words and [he force of the Argu~ent, gave themielves lienee to expound there werds to [he pre.enr advantage, and to make the contellion of Peter ro be the foundation of the Church, that if [me Arriant fi10uld encounter this Authority, thcy might with more pre. judice to their perfons declaime againf] their cauie by tayina they overthrew the foundation of [he Church. Befides [h.~ this anfwer does much diJhonour [he reputation of the Fathers integrity, and makes their iaterpretaticm lelfe credible as being made not of knowledge or reaton but of neceffity and [0 ferve a.f:;retenc. rU.rn, it _is aIr? lillie: . For' fgnatilU expounds it In a Ipirituall Ienle, which al:o the Liturgy anibuted to S}arnu cals 0iJ m7f~ ,;. ";;u,: Aud Origm expounds it myilically to a third purpoie, but exc1ufively to this: And all there were before the ArrianControverfy. But ifi.e be lawfullw make luch unproved oblervarions, it would have been ttl better purpole , and more reaton to have ob'erved it thus: The Fathers [0 long as the ~i(hop of Rom~kept bimfelfe te the.Iimirs preicrib'd him lily Chriti , and indulged to him. by the Conllirurion or concellion of the Church, were unwary and apt to expound this place of the perf on of Peur; but when tbeCburcb began to fD!arge her phylacterie5 by the favour of Princes, and the Sun. nllne of a pr?(perous fortune, and the Pope by the advantage of the Impenall Seat, and other. accidents began to invade upon the other Bifh.ops and Patriarchs, .then that he might have l!IQ colour from Scripture for Juch new pretenfiens, they did mOlt generally turn the {!:ream of their expofitions from [he penon to the confe/lion of Pm,. and declar'd that to be the foundation of the Church, And [hilS I have requited fancy with !ancy 1 but for the maine point, that thele two Expofirions are JndLilue of. each other, I lind no warrant. fur thcuzh d.c" may I:onfifl: together well enough, if Cbrill' had [0 igtendd tuemj yea unlelTe it could be !hown by {orne circumtiance of the Text, OI [orne other exrrinlecall Argument that they mutt be. [0, and chat both lenfe~ were attullly intended, it is ?ut grlltll dlaH", and a beggu_lg of the QllelHon, to fay t"at gh\,y areJo, .iU1Q the fancy 10 Dew, that when S. ,Agjhn had

. '. expoLlDded .

The Liberty of Prophefying.

expounded this place of the. perf on of Peter, he revie~es ~t 30aine, and in his Retractations leaves every man to his Itb~rcy, which to take; as having nothing cer.t~ine in this .Article: which had been altogether needleffe If he had believed them to be indutively in each other, neither of them bad need to have beene retracted, both were r.like true, both of them might have been believed: But I laj,d the fancy was new, 'and I had reafon ; for it was [0 unknown till yetterd~y, that even the late Writers of his own fide, expound [he

words of the confeffion of S. Pft.r exclufively to his penon or a Derear. Pl~ any thing elre, as is co be teen in' c..Mllrpllll', b PurNJ de Ali~cQ cis p.m.!,c.,8. and the glotfc upon Dijf.19.CAN.;(4 'Dominlll, § Ht [ltpr,,! which b llecollimer.d. al(o was the Interpretation of Phavorinul CAm"1 their own facr.Scnpt, Bifhop, from whom they learnt the refemblance of the word

n.p@- and ",,~;let, of which they have made fo many gay die-

courtes , .. ipet ~f,<l m ""1,,, tippet,,;;, x"ff. 111-';;;V In~. xl'~' .;~

.iJ.oJ"I-',lv"","Xii, e" ~ J~.""JIX¥ ,s.'l-'i~l~ """'~fl'f~I'i-'tv". "T. ~

~. But upon condition I may have Ieave at another time to --J,m. I' recede from fo great and numerous TeHimony of Fathers, I am

willing to believe that it was not the confellion ofS.Pmr, but

his perfon upon which Chrift [aid he would build his Church,

or that there Expofitions are conlifient with and confequent to

each other, that this conte!lie)U was the objective foundation of

Faith, asd Chriti and his ApoHles tlte fubjective ,·Chrilt prin-

cipally, and S. 'Peter infhumenrally ; and yet I underlland not

any advanrase will hence accrue to the Sea of ROlne : For upon

S.p,ter it ;a. built, but not alone, for it 'l'l'M WpON the fqNlrJati-

D~ of tb« APDft/U ImJ Praphets, ]'fiu Chrijf htmfolfe he;,:g th:

chit/eoTner flo",; and when S.P.rulreckoned the Oecoaomy of

Hierarchy, he reckons not Peter firlt, and then the ApoHles,

lIut lirH Ap~!tles~ [econdar~ly Prorhets, &c. And wh~tj6~ver is

firlt, either 1$ before all thmgs elle, or at lealt nOthmg IS be-

fore it: So that at leaH S. Peter is DOt before all the rert of tho

ApoHles. which alio S. P,:eul exprefly averres , / em en "."thing

infir,our to tb« ",Tl c,;ilfeff of the !!.Ap.!tltS, no not ID the,

·very being a Rock and a foundation; and it was ofthe Church

of l:,hefHI, [hat S. PtlNllilid in particular it was ,c~/Nl1Jna e: firmAmeNtHfJI fltri/llril ~ rharChureh wal, llot excludmg others!

R:3 fo!:

Vid.Socrar. I. 1.,,19,''', Sn:.om, 1.1, e 14·Nicep[,. J.'4,C.jO.

1:{.tlmb. 8·

Vid.Carncra, 'e"l:~, V"fr ert,

'for they alfo were as much as file; for [owe. keep clofe: a~d be united to the corner Hone, although fome he ,,?afier budders, ret all may build and we have knowl'l whole NatlQ»s cflnvmed by Lay.men and' women, who have been builders 10 time as to bring them to the corner Ilone.

6. But fuppofe all thefe things concern S,& 'Pettt' in all the capacities can be with any ~olour, preteaded , ye~ ~hat have the Bithops of Ram, to doe with dlls? For how Will n appear tbat thete piomifes and Commitli~s did relate to. him a! a panicular Bifhop, and not as a publike ApoHle? Siece rhis later IS fa much the more likely, became the great pretence of all Ieemes in reafen more proportionable t~ the jou~ding of a Church, then its continuance : And yet If they did relate [Q him as a particular Bilhop (which yet i~ a fllrtber degree of impr~ability. removed further frc~ ce~talflty) yet wby ilia!! S. (iemeNt or Linus rather fueceed In tb,t Bccat olfi~e of head. 111ip then S. John or any of the ApoHles that. furvived Pettr:

It is no way likely a private perf on fheuld skiP over the bead of an Apollle j or wby lhall bis Succeflors at R,m, more en· joy the benefit 01 it then his Succeflors at AIlJi§cb, f1~£e that he was at v1nliQcb and preached there, we have a DIVine Au~ rhoriry, but that he did 10 at ROrH' at moll we have buta hu .. mane; and if it be replyed that betaufe he dyed at RO?"I, l~ w~, Argument enough that there his Su~c~ffors were .to inherit hiS priviledge, this belices that at moffit I,S but one little degree of prcbabniry.and fo not of flrength fufl1clI:nt to, fuppon an Article of faith j ir makes that the great Divine Right of B:01NI, and the Apotlolicall prefidency was fo contingent and falhble as to depend upon the decree of Nm; and if be had [en~ bim to ,;.ri>.'tiDCh there [0 have Cuffered Manyrdome, the BllhopJ ~f that Town had been heads of the Carnolike Church. And rhis thing prefles the harder.becsuie it is .held ~y no meane perfons in the Church of Rom«, that the BI!11llpnek of R~w' and tbe Pap::cy . are things re~arable : And the Pll~ m~y quit that Sea and fit 11'1 another, which to my underlland~g IS an Ar~umenr, thar be that fucceeded Plt6r at .Anti~"h. IS as much iupream by Divine Right ashe that Gts at R_o",,; both alike , that is, neither by Divine O'rdina.oce : For If the Roman BdllOpJ by

. Chrill's

-----~-:-:---'- --_._-_.

~'7. The Libert) of Proph'hing.

135

---------------------------------

ehrin's intention were robe Head of the Chueh , then by

the fame inrenrion • the Succeffion rnult be continued in that Sea. and then let the Pope goe whether he will, the Bilhop of Rumemuli be the Head ,which they themfelves deny. and the Pope him(elfe did not believe, when in a fchifme he fare at cAvignon ; and that it was to be continued in the Sea of R~me, it is Out offered to us upon conjedure, upon an aCl: or providence, as they fancy it, [0 ordering it by vifion, and this proved by an Author which themfelves call fabulous and Apocry, phall, under the name of LiHlI4, in Btbll8th, pp, de pflJ!i9ne Pt. In & P{I,,/i .. A goedly building which relies npon an event that was accidentall , whofe purpofe was but infinuared, the meaning of it but conjeclur'd at, and this eonjeeture Co uncertain, that it was an imperfe6t aime at the purpofe of an event, which whether it was true or no, was [0 uncertain. that it is ten toone there was no fuch matter. And yet again, another degree of uncertainty is, to whom the Bilhops of RDme doe fucceed , For S, PattI was as much Bifhop of Rome, as S. Peter was; there he prefided , there he preach'd , and he it was tbat was the Doctor of the lincircumcifion and of'tbe Gentiles, S. Peter of tne Cireumcition, and of rhe Jewesonlyj and therefore the converred jewes at Rowe, mighrwirh better reafon claim the priviledge of S.Plter, then the Romans and the Churches ill her Communion, who doe not derive from ]ewiib Parents. ,

7' If the words were never 10 appropriate to Pmr, or alfo N tI~G. f), communicated [Q his Succeflors , yet of what value will the

eonfequem; be? what prerogative is entail'd upon the Chaire of

Rome? For that S. Pmr was the Mini!leriall Head of the

Church, is the moA: that is .defir'd to be prov'd by thole and

all other words brou!!ht for the fame purpotes , and interefls of

that Sea: Now let vthe Miniflerall Head have what Dignity

ca; be imagined, let him be the firH (and in all Communities

tou are regular, and orderly mere muft lie fomerhing chat is

lirlt , upon certain occafions where an equal! power cannot be

exercifed, and made pompous or ceremoniall.) But will this

Mioilleriall Headfhip inferre an infallibility? will it inferre

anore then, the Headlhip ofrhe Jewiib Synagogue, where clear.

Jy the High Pridl was Jilprcmein many len{es , yet ~ no ~enfe

. infallible > .'

The Li~ertJ of PyopheJjing. ~.7.

infallible? will-it-i;:;r~~~~;:-the~it did amongH t~ Apoflles > among!]: whom !f for orders fake. S, Peter was the fidl, yet he b29 no _compullory power over the Apotlles j there was no Iiich rhing Ipoke of, nor any fuch thing put in practite. And .thac th~ Otll~t Apollles were by ~ perfonall priviledge 3S l~ra!~I~le as himfelfe , IS no reafon to hinder the exercife of jurL~ldlOn or any . c~mplll[ory p.olVer over them; for though in ~a'th tbey were infallible, yet III manners and matter of fad as likely ,co en~ as S.Ptte".hitllfd!ewas, and certainly there migbt have lomerhmg ha~ned 10 t~e whole Colledge, that might have been a R~c51rd .o! hIS Aurb.o:'ty , by rranfmining an example of the exercile 01 l_ome ] udiciall power over fome one of them. I~he .113d.but withfiood any of them to their faces. as S. Payl did bll1?, !t h~d been more then yet is iaid in his behalfe. Will the MlI:1l1en~1! HeJ~ihip inferre any more then when [be Church In.a ~.ommunl[y or.a publike capacity. Ihould doe any ~a: of MI.ntttery ECitleliaHlca!1. he fhali be firfl: in Order? S~ppoJe this to be a dignity.w prefide in Councels, which yet was. ~ot alwayes granted him , Suprofl! it. to be a power of raking cognuance of the .Major Cau.es of lIIfi10pS when COUll' cels, cannot be called j. Sl;lppofe it a dcuble voyce or [he hi! decifive, or the negatlve!n .the cautes exteriour , Suppofe it to, be what) ou WIll of dIWllty?c externall .regiment, which wnel~ all Churches were United 111 Communion, and neither the II1terell:. of Stares , nor the engagement of opinions bad made dllun!on" might better have been acted then now it can; yet this ~IIl t~l1 infinitely fhorc of a power to de.ermine Comroverfies InfallIbly, and [0 prefcribe to all mens faith and contciences, A Minifieriall Headfhip or the prime Mini!ler cannot m any capa~uy become the foundation of the Church to. a~y" [hch pur~le. And therefore men are cauflefiely amufed W!l~ iuc .. pr. mifes , and are afraid of inch Conclniions which \VI never f?110W from th~ . admiffion ofany ~n(e of rhefe wordi that can with any probabl}Uy be pretended,

8. I confider chat rhefe Argumenu from Scripture. are too weak to (uppore lu.eh al! A~thority which pretends to give Oracle.s, and to amwer infallibly in ~eHiolls of Faith bec.ufe there Ii greater reafon to believe the Popes of RD:ne have

erred,

Nllmb.lo.

The Li6,yty of prophefJillg. IS?

----------~- ~~~~~---------

erred,' and greater certainry o~ demonll!ation J' ehen th~fe places can be that they are infalhble, as will appear by the InHances and perpetuall experiment of their being deceived, of which there is no <l!!_ellion, but of the (en(e of thefe places there is : And indeed, if I had as clear Scdpture for the It infallibility, as I have againH their balle C;oJ:?lmunioD,againH tbe!r Service in an unknown tongue, worfhippieg of Images. and divers otber Articles, I would make no Icraple of believing, but limit and conform my underllanding [0 all their DiCtates, and believe it reafonable all Prcphecying fheuld be rc:llrain'd: But till then I have leave to ditcouf(e, and to yfe my reafon; And eo my r~a(on, it feemes not li~elr that neither Chr~~ nor any of his ApoHies. S. Pm." himrelfe, not S.P,,"l.wfltlng £0 the Church or RDme, Ihould Ipeak the leall word or tittle of. the infallibility of their Bifhops, .for it was certainly as eonvemenr 'to tell us of a remedy, as to foretell that certainly there mull: needs be herefies, and need of a remedy. And it had been a certain determination of the Qutllion, if when fo fare an opportunity was miniHred in the <l.!!.eflion about Circumcifion that they ihould have fenc [0 Peter , who for his infallibility in ordinary. and his power of Headlhlp would ~ot onl,y WIth r~afon enough as being infallibly a.fIill~d, but alio for hIS Auc?~f1(y have bell: determin'd the <l!!...efhon, If at leaH: the firl!: Chriltians had known (0 profitable and [0 excellent a feeret; and although we have but little Recerd, that the firH Councell at 'jerufolml did much ob(er~e the folennitiesofLa.w> and the forms of ConcilialY proceedlllgs. and the CeremoDlals : yet fo much of it as is recorded, if againlt them; 5. James and not S.Ptler gave the finall fencence , and although S. 'Peter determin'd the ~Ition prllli!mtAt8. yet S. James made the Decree. and the A{fumentum tOO, and &ave Jenten~e they lhould abllaine from fome things th~re mentioned, ~blch by way of

temper he judg'd moll: expedlenr '. And (0 It. palfed •. ~nd, ~,Chr}roft. S. Peter fhewed no fign of a SupenouI" AutborIty, ~othmg. of hOlll·,l.ill. ad. Superieur juriCdiB:ion, "oe;-. ~ ".7'~ f$ KOIV'" ..,,.,1,,,· .,.;"'711 Ap,;lt.

'''1M!' ,J'i~ d.u~e,1Iw, ~I' r:p~~,. . . .

,. So ~hat if this Q!!_eHion be to be determlD'dby SCflpture~ It N_. u·

JIlull either be end~dby plaine places or by obfcure; plame

. S places

13S The Liberty ofProphefjing. e.?

places there are n~ne, and tbefe-~b~~. are with-g~~~fan!i prete.nded!are expounded by AntlqU!ty to contrary purpoJes. But.lf o~Jcme places be all the .tvJ-£Y7i". by what meanes {hall we mfal.hbly find the fen~e of them ? The Popes interpretation [_ho~g? In all o.tbe~ cafes It might be pretended, in this cannot; tor l~ IS .the tbl~g m Qqelhon, and therefore cannot determine for. It lelfe; either therefore we have alto another infallible guide befides (he Pope, and fo we have tW6 Foundations and two Heads ((or ~hi.s as well as the other upon the fame reafon) or elJ~ (w~,ch IS indeed the truth) there is no infallible way (0 be mtalhbly affured that the Pope.is infallible. Now it bein~ againfi the common condition of men, above the ererences of ali other Governours Ecclefiaflical! • again!1 the AnJIogy of Scrip. rure, and the deportment of the other Apotiles, aaainti the Oeconomy of the Churcn.ard S.Pneysown enrerrain~em the prerumprion lies againH him, and thefe places are to be leCt to their prime intentions and not put upon the r~ck to force then)

to confeffe what they never rhouzhr. ' . .

~lm6. f2.. But now for Antiquity, iftbafbe depofed in this Q£~l1io:l, there are fo many circumriances to be comidered [0 reconcile their words and their actions, that tbe proceffe is more troubleIome.then the Argument <;an be concluding, or the matter con' fiderable . But} Ihall a little confider it 10 farre at leal! as to ~lew eit~er ~ll.tiq uity. raid no iirch tbi~g as is pretended, or If t?ey did, It IS but 11~t1e confiderable , becau.e rbey did not believe rhemfelves j rheir praciiie was the areareft evidence in the world agaimi the pretence of their wards. Bur I am much eafed of a long d!fquiJirion in this particular ( for I love not }.O prove a. Qqefhon by :Arguments whore Authority is in it Ielfe as fallible, and by circumriances madeas uncertain as the Q£eHion) ,by the raying of vt;'''''1 SY/ViHf. that before the Ntcm~ Councell every man Iiv'd to himfelfe , and fmall reipcCt was had .[0 the Church oiR071J6, which pracliJe could not well confiH With the Doctrine of'rheir Bifhops infallibility, and by contequence Jupreme. Judgement and laft refolurlon in matters

f~~.~:l';t~c~t. of Faltb; ~ut efpeCl~lly by ,the inlir.mation and comequenr cunda Ienrer» scknowledgemem {Jf; liellarmme ,t?at for lOGO years together

r: '. tne fathers knew ~9t of the Do~nne of ~h~Po'pes inta!1ibiJiry~

. - . . foi:

Th, Li6erty of PropheJj;ng.

for 'NJ_/UI, qer[on • .Alemain, the Divines of Peris, eAlph,,,for de Caftro,and Pope Adri .. "VI.perJans wholiv'd 1-1-ooafrerChrifi, affirm, that infallibility i, not feared in the Popes perfon, tbarhe may we and fomerimes actuaJJy bath, which is a .clear demonfiration . that the 'Church knew no fuch Doctrine as thi'; there had been no Decree nor Tradition, nor generallopinion of the Fathers) or of any age before rhem , and therefore this opinion 'A hich Bellarmin~ would faine blaf] if he could, yet in his Conc1ulion he fayes it is not Jropri~ hitrltica. A device, and an expreflion of his own without fenfe or precedent. But if the Fathers had fpoken of it and believed it , why may not aciiJagreei.l1g perfon as well rejec] cheirAutbority when it is in behalf of Rome, as they of Rom~ without fctuple call them oft' when rbey Ipeak againfi it? For as Bel/armme being preffed with rhe Authority of N./UJ Bi!hop of The.ffizlonica and other Fathers, he fayes that the Pope acknowledges no Fathers but they are all his children, and therefore they cannot: depofe againLl him j and if that be true, why fhall we take their Tettimonies for him? for if Scones depofe in their Fathers behalfe, it is twenty to one, but the advcrle party will be calr, and therefore at [be belt it is butfoheCfum'IeJltmonittm. But in, deed this dircourfe fignifies nothing. but a perpetuall uncerrainry in fuch ropicks, and that where a violent prejudice, or a concerning interet! is engagd , men by not regarding what any man (ayes, proclaim to all the world that nothing is certainjbut Divine Authority.

But I will not take advantage of what Bell"rmin~ fayes, nor Numb. II~;

what Siap/mn, or anyone of them all,.[ay, for that will bee .

but to preffe upon perfonall perfwafions , or to urge a ge-

nerall <l!!_eHion with a particular defaillance , and [he Qll_eHion

is never the nearer to an end, for if Bel!ar",i"e fayes any [bing

that is not to another mans purpore or perfwalion, that man

l'Iili berryed by his own Argument, not by anotbers , [And fo

would every man doe rhat loves his liberty. as all wife mendoe,

and therefore retain it by open violence, or private eva lions :

But to return.

Am Author!ty fr.o!? jrenttNr in this Q,!!.efiioa, and on behalr!X.~mb. 14'

of the Popes mfalltbIlity, or the Authonty of the Sea~ of $.gme, -

S 2 or

rh, Li6erly 'f Prophefjing.

or of [he neceflity of communicating with them is very fallible; for befides that there are almol] a dozen an fivers to {he words of the Allegation, as is to be teen in thofe that [rouble them. felves in this Q:!_eHion with tbe Allegation, and anfwering fuch Authorities. yet if they fhould make for the affirmative of this <l.!$ilion , it is pr.ttjlAlio eomr« f.-£1Nm. For lrm~IU bad no lllCh great opinion of Pope PiCtm infallibity, that he believed things in the fame degree of neceflity that the Pope did, for therefore he chides him for Excommunicating the eAji,," Bifhops d3p'IlI, all at a blow in the Q!!.eltion concerning Eafler day; and in a Q.u.eflion of Faith he exprefly rlifagreed from the doctrine of R01m; for Irout« was of the Millenary opinion, and. believed it to be a Tradition Apotlolicall: now if the Church of R,me was of that opinion. then why is fhe nor mow? where h the fuccelIion of her doCl:rine ? But if the wat mot of that opinion then, and irm£NI was. where was his be. liefe of that Churches infallibility? The fame I urge concerming S.C,pri.-n who was the head of a Sed in oppofition to the Church of Rome, in the ~llion of rebaptization, and he and ehe aberrors, Firmili411 and the other Bifhops of C"pp4Jocill,and rhe vcifinage fpoke harfh words. of Stephen, and fuch as become [hem not to fpeak to an infallible Dodor, and (he fupreme Head of the Church. j will urge none of them to the ditadval1tage of that Sea, blat only note the Satyrs of Fm"lli"" againH him, becaufe it is of good ute, [0 fhew that it is potJible for them in their ill carriage to blatt the reputation and efficacy of a great Authority: For he fayes that that Church did pretend the Au-

;lpHl.'Firmili. rhority of the Apollles, ,"m in mliltu fotrAflmltil divin£ rei, J ~rul cadre pr;ncipill di{crepet.& ,,[, etC/ejiff Hierofo']11Jitffllli., & def4met Pe· p~ifr,l:~jd y~. tTII", cr PAil/it" tan'!u"", /tNt"orU. And a little after jllft!: ~mEp.Cyj,~i~. deJig"Dr (fayes he) "p,rt"m & mlfni!,n"", ftul~iti"m Stephil. ",i ad Pompei: n;. per '111"1» 'tIer;'''1 Chrift;~ntl petr£ "b,fetNr, which words fay MJlh. .. plainly that for all the goodly pretence of ApoltolicaJl Autho-

rity, the Church of Rome did then in many thingsofReJigio:J ditagree from Divine Jnllirudon (and from the Chnrch of Je· ,.lIfo/,DJ, which they had as great eHeeme of for Religion fake~ as of Rome for its principality) and tblt flill in pretending to S.Pmr. and ,fj.PtfNJ they dilhonoured th~[e bletf~d .Apollks, and

.. deftroyed

The Li6ert) of Proph'!1ing.,

detlroyed the honour of their pretence by their untoward prevarication; which words I confetfe pafle my skill to reconcile rhem to an opinion of infallibility; and although they were

fpoken by an angry perfon, yet they declare that in .Afric4 they . .

were not then pertwaded , as now they were at Rome .. Nllm Cy?"~.n "ria. nee PetrNf '1.em primurn Dominll4 tlegit fJendicllvit jibi alifjuid ~d QUUltUIl1 info/mter /tilt ffrr'g.-nter 4fumpjit, Ht Jielret fo primatu11J Wltre: ratrem,

That was their belief then, and how the contrary hath grown

up to chat heigth where now it is all the world is wimetle :

And now I Iball not need to note concerning S.Hier~me, rhar he gave a complement to DII",4/NI, that he would ~ot I~a\'e giren co Liber;lIl, 0!J, ttcllm HON CD/tigit !parg;t : For ir m!ghr be true enough of'lJ4m"/Ms who was a good Bifhop and a fight believer; but if LiberiNl's name had been put inllead of Dn",.{u/, the cafe bad been altered with the name; for S.Hlerom did believe and write it fo, that Liberilll had fubfcrib'd co At··

run;!",. And if either he or any of the rect had believ'd thl! Dc Script, Pope could not bea Heretick nor his Faith [aile, but be fo Eccltf.hlFo>

tunatiano •. good and of Jo competent Authority as to be a R~e ro Chrillen,

dome; Why did they not appeale to the Pope In the Arnan

Conrroverfy ? why was the Bifhop of Rome made a Pacey and a

concurrent a, other good Bifhops were. and not a Judge and

an Arbitrator in the <l!!,.efiioD? Why did the Fathers prefcribe

[0 many Rules and cautions and provifoes for the ditcovery of

herefy? Why were the Emperours at fo much charge. and

the Church at fo much. trouble as to call. and convene In

Councels refpettively , toditpute fo frequently, to write fo:fe-

dulouflYt to obferve all advantages againH their Adverfarie£,

and for the truth; and never o[fered to call. for the Pope

to determine the Q!!.eHion in his Chaire? Certaindly no

way coud have been fo expedite, none fo concluding and pe-

remptory, none could have convinc'd fo certainly, Clone could

have rriumph'd fo openly over all difcrepanrs as this, if they had

known of any fuch thing. as his being infallible\ or rhar he hail

been appointed by Chnll to be the Judge 01 Controverfies,

And therefore I will Dot trouble this difcourfeto excufe any

more words either pretended or really (aid to this purpofe of

the Pope, fortbey'\vould but make books fwell and the . <l!!efiion

. . 53 enr;\leHe, .. ,

.. :The Li/;my of Pr6pbefying• -.:.._§o_:__7o

,-----

end Idle, I lhall only to this purpore obferve that the Old Writers were 10 I:me from believing the infallibility of rhe Roman Church or Bifhop , that many Bithops and many Churches did aBually live and continue out ofrhe Roman Communion;

• vbi ill.1 Au. particularly * S.eAejJi>J, who with 2I 7 BiOlOPS and their Suc~ g ufi iu & re- cellars lor I co years together !lood Ieparare frem that Church, hJu0r~l:n PHI, if we Imy believe their own Records: So did Ign4fill" ~:~';·~r~[~~.~sf_ os' (a>JjlrmlilJoplc, s. ChrJfo(lome, S. Crpri<l'J j .Firmifian, ii:Jim~ igno, rhofe BilllOpS ~f vi/ill th~t· reparared !n the Q£.et!io~ of ,,,nria: illam Ealier , and thole of ~frica In the QgeflIon of rebaptlzatlon; ~JCUll HI t.ir But betides this, moll: of them had opinions wbicb the Church I:<.;an:"AI/'.,. of Rom~ dilavowes now ; and rherefore did 10 then, or elfe file

trw", "II. h h i d i h D.Q.· I . h L h i b 11:

Cop.m,log,p.7C, at Illnoyate In er_ o~<flne~ w uc rnoug .It e mo tree

77. Vid~ clialll and notorIOUS, I am lure ale WIll never confdlt:. Bur no ex/Jolli/le. II. E· cufe can be made for S. Allfli,,! di[agreeing, and contelting in pi/;.adEII!a'il!tI1 the Q!!ell:io!1 of appeales co Rgl1J~, the n~cefficy of Commu- 1..c·tldrmt~n. nicating :n!anrs, rbe abfolure damnation of Infanrs to the paines 1iO;~;~i::;~)~J.'· o''f Hell, if they die before Baptifm: and divers other particu, in fine. S,,'mc. Ius. I t was a famous act of the Blfhops of LiglJria and 1ftria ,.,!Tom.I,. who feeing the Pope of R~m: con[enting co the fifth Synod ill ~1,,{i.5S. ~ad dilparat;ement of the famous Councell of Cha/c:don, which for Canomm.s,.'/J·. their own interefis they did not like of they renounced [ub. (:~" ~~ ~./tU;~ jection co his Patriarchate, and erected ; Patriarch at AqlliMtI :~1o:~~L~·;;'~;' .. who was afterwards eranflated to Venic~, where his name reo ':!O;h.lO • .1.V. maines to this day. It is alfo notorious that moll: of the Fa. 8r~. rhers were of opinion that the foules of the faithfull did not

enjoy the beatifick ViGon before Doomefday , wbether Rome was then of that opinion or no, I know not, I am Cure now they are not; witnefle roe Councels of Ftorenu and T .. ent; but of this I (hall give a more full account afterwards. But if to all this which is already noted, we adde rbar great variety of Opl. nions amcngtl the Fathers and Councels in alIignation of the Canon, they not con{ulting with the Bifliop of Rom:, nor any of them thinkillg themfelves bound to follow his Rule in enumeration of the books of Scripture, I think no more need to be laid as to this particular.

NIII'lJb. I_I'. 8. But now if'afier all this, there be feme Popes which were

notorious Herecicks,and Preachers of falie Doctrine, lome that

. - m~

---._ .. _-- -_--- __ . -._-.-_ ---_ ... ----~

The Li6crt) 0/ ProphefJ'ing. 14i

made impious Decrees. both i? rairh a~d m~nners; rome that have derermin'd Q.u.ell:lons with egregIOus Ignorance and fb-

pidity, fame with apparent So~hi[lry, and ~anr ~'? rerve rh~i_r

own ends moll: openly, I (irppole then the mfal!Jbdlty WIll ?ll-

band and we may doe to him as to other good Bifhcps, believe

him when there is caufe , but if there be none, then to u'e . .

our Coniciences Non enim fllvat ChrijJi41111m quod POn/ifo,: fra,e;; de In.

" .a: '.11 t:d ' d terul". Com-

conjanter aJJirmat pr<tceptll11J filum tJJ:';Ul'fJm, Jt. oparre» I .. t! pof. a Theel,

t.'(~minar;, & fo jfJxta ntfJ!a1H foperifJl datllm .dir/gere:· I would Vener.prcp, not inftance and repeat the errours of dead Bifhops , If the ex - IJ.

Heme boldneifeofthe prerence did nor make ir necefjarv : Bur . d.

if we may believe TertN!!ian, Pope ZtpherblfJI approv'd the .;,b. auvc.;

b . d 1 raxcam,

Prophecies of UlfOl1tllnru, and upon that appro anon grame

peaceto the Churches of Alia and PhlJgia, till <Pra:rear pe:--

iivaded him to revoke hIS act : But let this relt upon the credit

orT~rtllllilcn, whether Ztpherinn: w:ere a 0l£ontanifl 01' no; Vid. liberal. lome Iiich thing there was for certain. Pope Pigt/tII! denyed in breviario, t'NO natures in Chrill:, and in his Epi!!Ie to Theod~ra the E~. c~p.". prefle anathemariz'd all ~hem that fa~d he ha~ two n~tures 111 ~)urJnd'4o one penon j S.Gregory hlm(elfe perrnirred PrIel!.s co give con. udl.7.q.j, firmation , which is all one as if he f110111d permit Deacons to

con(ecrate, they being by Divine Ordinance annevr co the higher

orders; and upon this very ground· Adrianll! affirms that the

Pope may erre in defil1;mdu d.gm,ltIb,u fidei. And that \~e Q!'x. de co"," ffi3Y not teare we [liall wane inttances , we may to Iecure It (irm.are, ur, ral<e their own conferfo», N;lm W!t/{J] fmt dteret.1!es h<treti;.e

layes Occham as he is cited by .AhiM;iJ, 0~ firm,ter hoc credo 3.diG•lof. (fayes he for his own particular) fld nO>J fiat dogmathare 0(1- q. unrc a, po filum qnmiam funt determilJat£. So char w~ may as well. f~e

that it is certain that Popes may be Herericks , as that IUS dlngerous to lay fo; and therefore there are ~o ~e\~ rhat tea~b

it; All the Patriarchs and the Bil1lOp of Rome hlmleUe ~ublcrtb d

10 Arria"i[m (as Beroni)« confeifes j ) and.' qratianatnrms that A.D,!f7.n.4< Pope Ana/fajilUthe Second was ll:rllcken of GO? fo: commu- • D.l~. [9.C.~, !liming with the Heretick photinHf. I know 1C will bemade L. of. ,"p.~. !ight of thar qre!,DrJ the Seventh faith,. the very exorcuis cf

tbe Roman Church are Superieur to Princes, ~!.lt what Ihall

we (binR of that decrerall of Gr~gorJ the Third, who wrote

.... to

144 The Li6erty of Prophefying.

_--- ------- :_--~-

to BOll8j"" his Legate in GeT",""}. fJllod il!i IjHorN", It~:om Vi<l. Cr,r,n'l. ;njirrtllitR" 1I{;1Ith ,mrhid4 dehitHm retide" "oINfrun" Miu pOle. ~UIl1. Coreil, '''Nt ,,,there I was this a Doctrine fir for the Head of the

tol.1.18. Edit. .. .

P,u[Werp. Church an infallible DoCtor? it was plainly, If any thlDg eyer

was dodriHIl 'Dofmoniorum, and is noted for fuch by 9rati~n, (::1"[.31.' q'7. Col". q"od propoffl;jli. Where the glofle alfo ill, rimates that [he fame priviJedge was granred [? the Englifhmen by 9rf!,"r! , "lltill n0'l11 mmt in jide'r And Jon:;etlmes ~e had little reaton to expect much beuer j ror, not to mttance In [hat learned dilcourfe in the • Canon Law detna, orirllre 6' o6Idlenri/i,

C where the Popes Supremacy over Kings is proved from the

'p per venc- , ' h ~ d h

r ahnevu, 'lui firH chapter ot GeneJit, and the Pope IS t e eunne, an t e

filii lint!'gid. Empereur is the Moone, lor that was rhe fancy of'one Pope all. perhaps; though made authentick and doctrinall by him; it

\lias (if it be poflible) more ridiculous, that. Pope l"nD~'entthe Third urges thar the Mofaicall Law was Hill to be obierved, snd that upon this Arg1:lmenr, S,*"e, faith he, cum 'De"urano· miut» fecund" lex ;Hurpremur IX 'Vi 'I1DcII/mii comprohatllr lit quod i6i decer"itHr in TefillmentD 110'110 debellt ohfl1'11ar;: Worfe yec; for when there was a corruption crept into the Decree

I:dl.lf,·pud called Sana" Rom""a, where inHead of there words Sedulii Op/IJ Grattan, heT6icilverjl6Hs deftriplHm I all th~ old CopZes till of late read bereticis 'lIerjibw deforip,,,m; this very mifiake mad,e many

De S3CCrd. Wile men, (as PieriNI (ayes) yea Pope A~r;a¥ the SI~thJ no

barb, worfe man, believe that ail Poetry was hereticall, becaufe (forIooth ) 110Fe Gel"Jillf whore Decree that was J although he believ'd JedNI,ul to be a goed Catholike, yet as chey c~oughr, he concluded his Verfes to be herericall : But theie were ignorances ; ir hath been worfe amongLl [orne others, whoie errours have been more malicious. Pope HOII~riul was condemned by the Iixth Generall Synod, and his Epiflles burnt, and in the fevenrh aelion of the eigch Synod, the Acts, of [~e Romane Councell under eAdr;RlI the Second are recited. In which it is faid that HOHoriul was jufily Anathematiz'd, becaufe he was conviCt: of herefy. Bell"rmlll' fayes it is ,proba~!e that Pope Adrian,and [he Roman Councell were deceivedwirh falle Copies of the lixth Synod.and that H'Horiltl was no Heretick. To this I fay, [hat although the Roman Synod and. [he

eIght

, __ T._h'_Li6,r?__ot_p_r_oph;-'fj:-f_~lIg-;-'_~_--: 1~4~S~

eighth generall Synod, and Pope Adriall,altooether are better

~irnelr:s tor [he [h~ng c~en Bdlar",iltel co~je8ure. is againll:

If, yet If we allow hIS conjecture wee fhall lofe nothine in the whole, for, either [he Pope is no infallible Doctor, but may be a Heretick as HonoriNI was, or elfe a Councell is to us no infallible determiner; I fay, as [0 us, (or if Ad,;all and the whole Roman Councell & the eighth Generall were allcozen'd with {alfe Copies of the lixth Synod, which was (0 Iittle a while before rbcm.and whore acts were rraniactcd & kept in the Theatre.and Records of the Catholike Church; be is a bold man [hat will be confident (hat he bath true Copies now. So that let which they pleafe fland or fall, Jet the Pope be a Heretick or the Councels be deceived and palpably abufed, (for the other we will dirpute it upen other infiances and ar~ uments whe~ we Ihall know ~\hi(h part they will chcole) in the meane time we {ball get In the gcnerall what we look in the particular, This only, this device of faying [he Copies of [he Councels were falfe, was the

lliatagf!ll of Albertlls P,gh;1I1 900 years after the thing was Vid.Jimib. <1<: cone, of which invention PighiNI was prefenrly admonlfhed afr,6.& 7·'.Syblamed, and wifhed to recant. Pope Nicholas explicated th~ 110d'Pl;:tt~1tlC; e Myfl.ery of the ~acram(l1c with fo much ignorance and zeale ~ b~~~;'~~m that 111 ccnd(mnll1gBe':tngariIiI h~ ~aughc a w?rrei~piety. But BaJ;nlsn'. '1' what need 1 any more rnttances , It IS a confelled cafe by Baro_ l.a.lc.Jub.:. nirtf, by Bid, by ,stell", ~/main, Occham, and'Canus, andae-

nerally by the befl Scholars in the Churchof Rome that a P~pe • Pi(us ~!j. Inay be a Hererick, and that feme of them actu~Ily were Jo iiI, "t ",'h1'clll expo-

d 1 III I I I did b ' h ,,' orcm.a.

an no e e t len t iree general Councels 1 eleive t e fame

thing: 'vi:::.. lixch! feayenth, and eighth, as Bel{"rmine is pleaJed

to acknowledge In hIS fourth book de POlltifice Romano. C.I r ,

rtfp· tid Arg. 4. And the Canon.li Papa.dijt.4fJ. affirms it in

expreiTe rerrnes, rbae a Pore is judicable and punifhable in that

cafe. But there is 110 WOIJl1d but tCme Emperick or other will

pretend to cure ir, and there is a cure for this too. For though

It be true that if a Pope were a Heretick , the Church mi~t

depore him, )lec no Pope can be a Heretick.not but that the man

!Day, but.t~e Pope cannot , for he is ;pfo [IlElo no ~ope, for he L.l.C.3o.lIbi IS. no Chnlhan; Io BellarmitJ.l: and fo whenyourhink you have (ifFJ. §. c" him falt, he is,gone, and nothing of the Pope left; but who eego.

T feCI

,.----- ---------."--~------------------

1 he l,ihertJ ef propbeijing. Q.7.

14°

---i'ees not the extrea~ folly of this eva!lon? For beGJ;s-that OUt of feare anl caution be g;ants more then he needs, more rhen was fough;; tor ill the ~(tion. the Pope hath no more priviledge rhcn the Abboc of Cillll), for be cannot be a Heretick, nor be dc:po:ecl by a Councell, for if he be frJ.1l1ifejily a Heretick he is i;fo pC/o 110 Abbot. for he is no Chritlian , and if the Pope be a Hercrick priV:1tc!l (wd occultly, for thar he may be accufed and judged fayd tile Gloffe upon the Canon e Papa diP. 40. And the Abbo( of ellmy and one of his meanefl Monks can be no more.

" Vi,le t. t- therefore the cafe is all one, Bntrhis is firrer to make fport wid'; p',o.,!;:l:. ,nt, then to interrupt a Ierious ditcourfe, And therefore although the

th.: .:i::V. J1J.> C o.c.tt. R II h D I"P

rcf.c. 'I, he .anon oll"""l amana approves ate ecrera s or opes, yet

lcn.ma ri.k n» that very Decrerall hath not decreed it firm enough, but rhar

rem ot;ac,e, they are to warily receiv'd by ehem , that when they lill: they

, I' are pleated to diflent from them j And it is evident in the

v"" c". 11 In' Extravagant of S;:l:tm IV, Com. De ;'diquik; who appointed a

noccnnnm F ft " I' I ,_ '11 ffi _

Sell'\". de ea of tne immacu ate conception, a ipeCIJ 0 ce for rhe day,

~oll!ef>t.l'i.lr:. and Indulgences enough to the obtervers of it : .And yet the tif oct 7, 8', 'DSItJir.h'fI'I' were 10 time from believing the Pope ro be intillli. 6ynedl, & ble and his Decree aurhentick, that they declaim'd againlt it ill ~o"d1·rLl:' their Pulpits fo furiouflyand ro long till they were prohibited ·X~~'~~i:~;, 3. under paine of Excommunication, [0 fay the Virgin UW'lry was can.I',ubi PI'. conceived in Origin all Gn; Now what follenniry can be more judicialc,» required tor the Pope to make a Cathedrall determination of an fcntc:1\!Jlll p'. Article? The Article was 10 concluded, that a Feaf] was imlitu",oth rn =ouCa d f 1 brati d nai f "I ' .r~";] COl'itn, te lor Its c~ e ration, an pam 0 Excomrounrcat!on t rreatned

Icrum damna- [0 them which Iliould preach the contrary; Nothing more 10- rune c}:prdfe. krone, nothing more coafident and Ievere : And yer after all ",'em. comm , this, ro fhew that what.oever thofe people would have w to b:~~t~t, Slave. lieve, they'll believe what they Jill: rherntelves., This ching was

Lie. ' nor determined de fideJaith ViElllrC!!tIf; Nay, the Author of the

Do :\!;gelo Glotle of the Canon Law hath rhere exprefle words, De fej!~

<ullcd,_'o!.59' C'011Ctftianis "ihi! dicitftr quill celeltrmduTn non eji,fmt in ,mitt;, ,t~~~,"~~!:~'~~. regien:ltl!lfit,&m4:dme !tJ ~nglia, & h£c eji ratio, 'lNia , i» P,tCnuncii ' , II fl' caw ca~cepta (me feu! (:7 c«ter,SlInElt. And the Commiffaries,

'>t, 0 all. f . d III did hef d

l.",b.N,tjYir. 0 j'i~IIfJ V. all Gregory X ,I not expunge t eie wor s,

but leit them upon Record, not only again!! a received and mere approved opinion of the J efuues and FrilNCifciltll, but al[o in

e.7. The Liberty o/prophefying. 147

in plai~- defiance of a Decree made by their viGble bead of the • HSc in pel. Church, who (if ever any thing was decreed by a Pope, with p~lllUln ':aiilll' an intent to oblige all Chriltendome) decreed * this (0 that ra ~OIl{!,ll"t;O"

llC itanumus,

purpofe., _ , "' . &c,De ieliqi.i

So tbat without raking particular notice of It, that egregi- is,&c, Extrav .

QUS lophiflry and flattery of the late Writers of the Roman CGm. S;XI, 4, Chu~ch is in this inflance, befides divers others before menrio- cap, r-l • ".' ned, clearly made invalid. For here the BiDlOP of Rome not as Num.' ." a private Doctor , but as Pope, not by declaring his' own opi-

nion' but with an intent to oblige the Church, gave fentence in

a Q1!.eHion which the Damir.ictllll wil! HiiI account prIJ HOI$ de-

tm»il1,ua. And every decretal! recorded in the Canon Law it"

it be falfe in the matter, is juf] fuch another inHance: And

rA!ph~"foJ .t, (~(/fl~o Iaycs i~ to the fame purpofe~ in the in~tance

of C elcjtil1f dirfolving Marriages for herely , Nc£, Cdeflmt error

tslis fi:it qlli [of; negl:ger.ti.e imputari de6eat, ita lit illto» err4/e

dicamm vel;!t privatam pCrfo1Zeiln & no» tit Papam, qflo1Jir.m

hujufmadi elf-Iejiitli defi11;tio havetur in ,;tntiquis dccr6tflli6,u its

cap. Laudavihm, titHla de c~"ver/iol1e il1fdeltum;. 'l"~m_ ego ipfo

vid, 6:" !egi,M,I. ildv. h£ref.c.tp, 4' And therefore us a,roo!l:

intolerable folly to pretend th~[ t,he Pope cannot erre, 111 !II£

Chairc thoneh he may erre in his Clolet.and may mainrame

a [aIle ~pinio~ even to his death ; For beGdes rhar.ir j',ianiDl

(0 think that either he would 110t have the world of his own

opinion (as all men naturally would ) or that if I:e were fer i~l

his Chaire he would determine contrary to himfelfe in hIS

lludy (and ~herefore to ,reprelent it as poflible, theY,are f~ine co

f1ie to a Miracle for which they have no eolour , neither intlru-

tEens nor in!inuation, nor warrant, 110r promife; befi des rhar,

it we;e impious and unreatonable ~o d~pol~ him ~or hereiy.who

may fa eatily, even by !ettmg hlmlelfc: m, hI,S Chaire a~d rtVICW-

ing his Theorems mayeaiily be cured ) It is a1fo ,agau:fi., a very

grear experience; For befides the for~er Allegations It 15 molt,

notorious that Pope Ab,:andtr III in a Councell at llllm~ ot

'00 Ard~bi(hops and Bithops:A. D. 1179. condemn'd Peter

Lombard of herefy in a matter of great concernroe~t 1 ~o le!fe

then fomethine about the incarnation; from which ienrence

he was after 3~ years abiding it, abfolv'd by Pope /lmm"~ III,

, T 2 Without

The Liberty of Prophefying, -w-'-Ir-ho-,-It-re-p'-e-n-ra-n-c-e-or dereliC1i0!l of the opinion : No\V if this fentence was nor a Cathedral! Didare , as Iolernn and great as could be expeded , or as is [aid to be necelfa ry to oblige all Chrirlendorne let the ereat Hyperafpills of the Roman Church be Judges, \~ho tell u~ that a par~icular Councell with t~e.Pop~! confirmation is made Oecumenicall by adoption, and IS lOfd!Jt_ ble and obliees all Chrillendome , fo Beltllrmine: And. therefore

1,:.dc.O'>II_ be (ayes, tb~t it is te~#rllriH,". er~Q11.eH,". & pro:dfllHm h<freji, to il.cl"'· deny it but whether It be or not I( IS all one, as to my purpo(e:

For it 'is certain, that in a particular Counc~1I cOl~fir:n'~ ~y t~e Pope, if ever; then and there the Pope late hlmrelt~ 10 hiS Chaire and ir is as certain rhar he fate belides the cuihlOn and

D>:: Ponuf; I • hi r: n hi d

" " determined ridicuoufly and falfly III t 115 caie : ur t IS 1$ a e-

1,0"1". [~. '. T di d

~ rcfpondeo, vice for which [here is no Scripture, no ra men, no o~e og-

11l1_J:lll.d "}. maricall l'er.~:ute taying of~ any Father , Greek or Larine, ~or ,1, rn coul.z", above 1000 vcars afier Chnll: : And themlelves when they 11f! .. !u'.6.Jn nne: can acl,nowkdge as much, And therefore Bd!.1rminc's faying, I ',1"'l"'rb;all: perceive is betiev'd by them to be true: That there are many ;~.~t ~ i:~~ (~:,L: things in the ' Decrera'I Epirtles, which ma~e not Articles to <.eralibus, Ma- be·de jid1. And therefore, '1X!n eft luceJf{j~1O crede>1dll~ deterk cum. rebus minalis per fommum 'PompeoI'», fayes .A~mam: And this ferves i~,"!."an!S a"~l~' their [urns in every thing they doe nO.t like, ~nd the.refor~ I am d~,cx TO ac: reColved it 111all (erve my [urn alro for lome thmg, and that is.that ~t:l~~u~t~ fci\ the matter of the Pope's infallibility is 10 ridiculous and improcum Decrcralcs bable, that they doe not believe it themfelves : Some of them .:.ft ?e~rctL,Hn clearly pratliCed the contrary, and although Pope Leo X hath <-'fallanl nn determined the Pope to be above a Councell , yet the Sorbo» '. ;J~l!n~ Gred- zo this day fi:orn it at the very heart. And I mib"nt urge upon

'~:r<','cU non I e c. ,

i'lOlur. them that fcorn that A/main troly enough bywayof Argument Dc Aucher.e, alledges. It is a wonder that they who aflirm the Pope cannot Ecelef.cap.ro, erre in judgement, doe not allo affirm elm. he canp?t lin.ne: ';n fiile, zbey are like enough to fay ~o [ayes he '. If the V~t10US Ir\'e~ . t...1 ,CO·4· ad- of the Popes did not make a dIlly confiuarion of Iuch ~m~ry. 'erf;'J:::'r. c , Now for my ONn particular, I am as. confident and think H ~s .lit.Paris 1534· certain that Pores are aClually deceived 10 matters of Cbri-

"1 fcqq non , 'L L d . h I of

~xl'''rg.;ntlLr Hian Dothine, as mar tuey oe prevancue t e awes

lib Ve[1>3, at Chriiti.ln piety I And therefore t Alphanjtss a CaJl.ro ~alls ~h:l!I .dem Ii:n!i~ i/tJp1ld~~ttr Pill#! !l.fRtJMt~res, that alcribe [0 him rnfJlltb!lI' ·:un;~,.. ty

-----------~.-----

The Li6ertl of Prophe/j~·iJg.

-~-----~-~---- ---------_ .. -.

ty in judgement ?r i~t("rJ~reratioI? of ScriptLlre:

But iftnem(elves did believe It !leawly, what excufe IS there NI!'iJb. 11 in the world, for the Hrange unchatitablencffe or filpine negli,

eence of the Popes, that they doe not fer themfelves in their

Chaire and write infallible Commentaries. and determine all Controvenles without errour , and blaH all herelies with the

word of their mouth, declare what is and wbat is nor d» jid",

that his Di(ciples and Confidents may agree upon it; reconcile

the F,'fnCifcIlIfS and DDm;lIiclll1l, and expound all Myll:eries? lor

it cannot be imagined but be that was endued with 10 Iupreme

power it) order to (0 greatenss, was al!~ ~tted with ~roporriona.

ble, that is, extraordina-v perfonall abllmes, fucceedlng and de-

riv'd upon the pertons of all the Popes. And the.n the DoCtors

of his Church, Deed not trouble them(elves WIth itudy, nor

writing explications of Scripture. b~t might ~holly men? to

praC1icall devotion, and leave all t~elr Scholaltlcall wranglll1g~,

the diHinguilhiDg opinions of their Orders, and they miglH

have a fine Church, fomething like Fairy land, or Luci4nJ King.

dome in the Moone: But if they fay they canner doe this when

they lifl, but when they are mov'd to it by the Spirit, then we

are never the nearer; for {a may the Bithop of 0ngolefmt:

write infallible Commentaries when the boly Choll moves him

to it. for 1 [uppo(e his motions.are nor inefFeCtuall, but hee

will lufficiently atIill: us in performing of what he aCl ual1y moves

us to: But among (0 many hundred Decrees which the Popes

of Rome have made or coufirmed and atteHed (which is all cne)

I would faine know in how many of them did the holy Cboit

affiH: them? Ifthey know it, let them declare it, that it may be

certain which of their Decretals are de fide; lor as yct none of

his own Church knowes : If they doe not know, then neitller

can we know it from them , and then we are as uncerraine

as ever, and betides, the holy Ghofl may potIibly move him,

and he' by his ignorance ?f it .may. negleCt, 10 profitable a

motien, and rhenhis promtfe. ofl.nfalhbJeatIilTanc~ \yl!l. be to

very liule purpofe, becauie it IS wJ[~ v.ery much talhbtlitY. ap-

plicab'e to praciite , And therefore It IS. abrolu[e~y Ifielelie to

_ny man or any Church, becaufe, [uppofe l~ ft't[led :h Theji, ihar

!he Pope is iuiillible. yet whether he will doe h15 duty, and

T 3- perform

i ~~---'----~~------TjJ~-Lii~;;;~j prophefy;~g~--- -~-:7~

--'performtho[e co;di;f~ns of bcing ~!Iifl~-~~hlci1 ~r~ required~f him or whether be be a Iecret Simcniack (for It be be, he IS ipfof..[fo, no Pope) or whether he bea Bifhop, or Prie~r, or a Chri!tian being all uncertam ; everyone of there depending upon the i~tefl[i~n and power of [be Baptizer or Ordainer, which alio are !Jliible, becaule they depend upon the boneHy and rower of other men; we cannot be infallibly certain of ,any rope rhat he is infallible, and therefore when our Quelhons are dermin'd, we are never the nearer, but may hugge our Ielves in an imaoinJry truth, the certainty of finding truth out depending uio; fa many fallible and conringent circumflances, _An,d therefore the thine if it were true, being fo 1O 1:0 purpore , It is to be prelllm'd tb~t God never gave a f ower fo imperti~e~tly, and from whence no benefit c~':l accru~ to the Chriilian Church, for who.e u'e and benefit, If at all, It mull: needs have

been appointed.

~ 8. But I am too long in this impertinency: If I wer~ bound

to call any man Maller upon earrh , and to believe him upon his own aflirmative and authority; I would of all men le~ft follow him that pretends ~e is infallible and cann?t prove It. For that he cannot prove It, makes me as uncerrame as ever, and that he pretends [0 infallibility makes bim <;a_relelre of uiioo iirch meanes which will morally iecure rhoie Wile perfons, \Vb; knowing their own aprneffe _to be deceiv'd , ute Wh2.t endeavours they can to Iecurc thcmlelves frcm errour , and 10 become the better and more probable guides.

Well! Thus farre we are come: Although we are fecured

Nr,;')Jv. t9· in fundamemall points ii'om inv?lun,tary errour; by the pla_ioe, expretle.and dosmaticall places of Scripture. yet 111 other th1l1gs we are not but" may be invincibly miflaken, becauie o~ the obIcurity and difficulty in the controverted pam of Scripture.by reafon of the incenainry of rhe meanes of its Interpreration , iirce Tradition is of an uncertain reparation, and iomerimes evidently lillie, Councels arc contradictory [0 each other, and therefore certainly are equally deceiv'd many of them, _ and therefore all may; and then the Popes of Rome are very _hke1y to rniflead us, but cannot afcertain us of truth in matter of Q!!.~' iiion , and in this world we believe in parr. and prophecy Jl1

part,

e·8•

._---_--_._----_

SECT. VIII.

Of Ihe, difahility of Fathers, or Writers Etclejiaftic<lll, to determine our Jt2.!!eftions, with certainty "'Jd Trtt:b.

ref Her~ are lome rhar think they can determine all Qlelli. 'N'..!lmv. I.

1i. ens rn the w?!ld by tIVO or three fayings of the Fathers, or ?y tI;e confenr of j~ many as they will pleaie to call a concurrent ,l.elllmony: But this con(ideration will foon be at an end; for II the Pathers , when tbey are witneffes of Tradition doe not .Iwayes lpeak truth, as it hapned in the cafe of Fepins and his numerous Fol1olvers for almofi three A ees tozether then is their Tefiim,ony more improbable when ~hey Jljpllre'or wrir'e Commentanes.

:, 2. The Fathers of the firft Ages fpake unitedly concerning 'N:.rmv. z, dIvers <l!!eHions of (ecrer Theology, and yet were afterward.

~on:~added _by one perfonage of efeat repurion , whore credit

na? !o much influence lipan the world, as to make the contrary

OpinIon becom~ popular; why then may not we have the fame

l!berry, when 10 plain an uncertainty is in their perfwafions.and

:0 great contrariety in their Doctrines? But this is evident in

the cafe of ablolure predeflinarion , which till S. Aujiinc's time

?O ,man ~rea,ched, but ~ll, raught rile contrary, .and yet the repu-

,a,non ot this one excellcnr man altered the fcene. But if he

~Ight diflenr from fo Generall a Dottrine, why may not we

uoe (0 roo, it being pretended that he is fo excellent a prece-

dent co be followed, if we have the (arne rea ion ? he had no

more Authority nor dilpenlation to diflent , then any Bifhop

~a!h now. And therefore S.v1l1jlin bath dealt ingenioufly.and

3S

!.

i.'·

... ----------------------------------------~~-

I, It!

The Liherty of Propbe!jing. ~.3.

as he tOokrhis liberty to hi;;[eTf;[o he d~~ie-s-i-t -no-t-t-o-o-t'h-e~, "

S& lilt, but indeed forces them to preferve their OWD liberty: And

a Qci>. ad therefore when S.H,eram had a great mind to follow the Fa-

C:h"l1i.n. thers in a po. inr that he fancyed, and the belt fecurity be bad l

b Lib, I.

e l-lom'7.in was, Tatiarls mUfim trd;/Jfllerrilre,S.~Hflin would not endure

Levie, it, but anfwered his reafon, and neglected the Authority. And d Hem." in therefore it bad been motl unreafonable that we Ihould doe ! f;::l!. ad that now, though in his behalfe, which be towards greater perHeb. fonages (for 10 they were then) at that time jucB'd to be unf In c. 6.ad reafona?le. It is a plaine receffion from Allliquity, which was Apoc, determin'd by the Councell of Florence, piorut» (l"im~t purg,~. g 11l16.c,Lue. tllI,&C. max in Calto» ruipi, & 'Hllleri clare ipfml '])wm trio

h Li'.4,3dl', n,!m 0- flflllmjiCliti 41: As who pleafe to tly, may fee it dogmaMar. ncally refolve~ to the contrary by a Jltftin Milftyy , b Irenet«, i L,.,de.Coin, by c OngeN, as. Chryfof16me, C T heodorct. f.Arelbal C~[.lrjen,',l. jil, gEmhYl1Jitll, who may anfwer for the Greek Church and k Ep.1II.3d Ir is plaine that it was the opinion of the Greek Chur~h by

I'ortucaria- h d'fl- I

num, t, .at, &reat I iculty t ie Romans had .of bringing the Greek! to

J In Pf.l,138. Jubknbe to the Florentine Councell, where the Larines aded 111 De excq, rheir mafler-piece of wit and lhatagem. the grearefl tbar hath

dClllIlCto;. been nll the. famous and fuperpoli(ick delign of Trent. And

n rL,1·;'A'x. for the Larine Church , h Tertll/liIlIJ, i S.Ambrore. k S.Auflin o n C.o. pee. I S H'/ P d' L ~., p Serrn. 3.,de ,I ary ,m I U enttns , m a[lllntiJu, ~ '![loritJut Martyr, and

ot))J)Ilc\is. p S. BC!,tJard ar~ known to be of opinion that the foules of.

Vid, enin: , the Saints are In abdttis receptaculil C7 e~:te7iorillU!lltriH where

S. Aug. in they expect the refurrection of their bodies and the "'lorifica-

l'n1c111'd' e.103: tion of their foules , and though they all believe th~m to be

& .1', e crvu- hI' h b if k Vi b . h

Dei. c. 9' & in appy, ,Yet t ley enJoy nor, t e ean c Vllion efore t e re-

1'[.;6.&il1.1", furrechon : Now there being [0 full a confenr of Fathers (for rct~3{t,e'I4' many more may be added) and the Decree of Pope John XXII, v id, Inr~f'cr betides .. who was fo confident for his Decree (hat he commanded tclllli!ll~1l1S:' g~,:r the L'nivertity ofTllris to [wcar that they would preach it and

" colt. 1'.,.1. I d h

I" .c.§,n.98. no or ier , an t, at none fhould be promoted [Q degrees in

de rcpub.Eccl- Theology, that did not fwear the like, (as q Occbes», r Gerj:n, ~Six[.Scncnl. f M.~rji/lflJ and [0dri.>t.nlll report e) Since it is etieemed lawfull 1.6,.nnoq-fj'tl) dJ!fem {rom all theie , I hope no man will be fo unjufl to q III opcr, so, prelfc other men to confenr to an Authority which he him-

dien.m, S(rm,dcPali:hnI! f In l' Icnr.q, I 3 .~.;. [1114.4c~a"am,eonfilnm.

{elfe

I

1

,

The Liherty of Propbefjing. I S 3

:__:=--=-------'-_. _---

feIre judges to be incompetent. Thefe rwo great in(lances are enough,but if more. we:e neceffary I could inflan.ce in the o.pinion of the t hiliaft l,malllt3mcd by the fecondand third Centuries and difavowed ever Iince : in the Doctrine of communicating Infants, taught and pradifed as eeceflary by the fourth'and fifth Centuries,'&: derelled by the Larine Church in all the follow ing Ages: in the variety of opinions concerning the very form ofbaptifin.fcme

keeping clofe to (be infiitution and the words of its firll fanCtion, De conffctat:

Others aflirmingit to be filflicienr, if it be adminlftred II1I1Dmine Ji'l.~, c. a Chrifl;j parricuiarly S. Am6rofo, Pope Nicholas the Pirfl, >V.Rule quodm Iud.eo and t S.B,rnard befides lome Writers of after Ages 35' HI/go d~ • In c.ro, A{c. s.VtElOY~. and the Dodors generally his contemporaries, And j Ep·34<1,

it wculdnor be inconfiderable ro obferve.rhat if any Synod, Ce4

nerall , Nationall,or Proviaciall, be receded from by the Church

of the later Age, (as there have been very many) ihen.fo many

Fathers as were then aflembled and united in opinion are efieem-

ed no Authority to determine our perfwafions. Now Cuppofe

200 Fathers aflembled in fuch a Councell , if all they bad wuc

Books, and Aurho.ities, 1 co Authorities had beene alleadged

in confirmation. of an opinion, it would have made a mighty

noife, and loaded any man with an infapportable prejudice that

Ihould diffenr: And yet every opinion maintain.ed. aga~n~ t~e'. ViJ. frill, Authority of anyone Councell, though but Provinciall, IS In ,ItS BonifJCJi Il~ proportion fuch a violent receffion and negleCt of the Author~y 'I ud NlColl_ anddoCtrineoffomany Pathers as were thenaffembled, who did ~u(ll'Iom. ~. as much declare their opinion in thofe Affcmblies by their S~£fr~- i4~~'~ ~4':~: ges I as if they had writ it III fo many books; and their 0plDlonl.s plar precum mcre confiderable in the Atlembly then in their writings; becaufe 1:111,,1,; spud

it was more deliberate, arf:Hed, united and more dogmaticall. eundem, i~jd.' In purfuance of this obfervation, it is to be noted by way?f in- ~;~h~~'~~'~Hance that S, Alt}lin and lWO hundred and Ievenreene Bifhops cmnes .tedr". and alltheir Succeflors ' for a whole Age together did confent inresluos 'lui in denying appeals [0 Rome; and yet theAurhority of fo .many in e a caufa Fathers (all true Catholicks) is 01 noforce now 3tRornlllDthlS Itom;r te opQ!!,efiion j but if it be in a matW! they like, one of [hefe fa4 ~~~i" ~c~<l>ul:!~ przvari(~lIi funr > inter quos ramen fLlit:Aug>.lllir,us, quem pro r:)~ledi8o·.C:rl~~jmJ$ ta .. d,e 'gnofci" .dl1oitfen~" (c: "co- p'.r,I',,(~m, V.d, DV[lOI,' M alia. de Juri/dlel, parI .... P,l73. e- tr.[ma"nol.jII·fi>mJll_ f'~f.I,m J).nlf~

V

thers

i.·

154 --::--::-=~~h.e·i;/;ert' of prophefying. _

thers alone is fuffic.ienr. TIle DoCtfi~~ ~f S:A,,/U,J alone brought in the feHivall and veneration of [he alfump[ioJ) of [he blelfed Virgin, and the hard fenrence paired at R~"" upon unbaptized Infants and the D()lf1i~jC41' opinion concerning predetermination, derived from him alone as from their Originall: fo thar if a Fa. rher (Peaks for them, it is wonderful! to fee what Tragedies are Hirred up againil them thar diHeor, as is [0 be feen in that excellent nothing of C4mpi,m's. ten reafons, But if the Fathers

be againit them, then Patrer;n 'lllibHfdll1/1 non I,vittr 14p/i [lmt fayes !Jerl/ay",;", > and cp11j}qt '1Nofd"", e:; pr.tcipu;t, it is certain the chierefi of them have touly erred. Nay> PQfo, Sal. nseran , and wadding in the Q!!.ellion of the immaculate con. ccprion make no fcruple [0 dilfent from Antiquity j [0 preferre

new Doaors before the Old, and co juil:ifie themfelves, bring inHances in which the Church of RDm, had derermin'd againll the Farhers.. And it is not excufe enough to fay that fingly the Fathers may erre , but if they concurre they are certain Tetlimany. For there is no quellion chis day diipured by perf 0115 that are willing to be tryed by the Fathers, Io generally atrelled on either fide, as lome points are which both fides diflike [everally or conjun6tly. And therefore ti~ Dot honefl for either fide co preffe the Authority of the Fathers, as a concluding Ar' gument in matter ~f diij:llIce > unlelfe themfelves will bee con. rent to fiibmir in all things to the TeHimony of an equall moober of them, which 1 am cerrain neither fide will doe.

'i{tlPJ~~ 3' 3· If I fhould reckon all the particular reafons againH the

certainty of chis ropick, it would be more then needs as to tbi. Qu.eilion, and therefore I will abflaine from all difparagement of thofe worthy Perfonages, who were excellent lights to their fe.erall Dicceles , and Cures. And therefore I will D_Ot_ioHaIlCC

5 I ~ Ii that Clmm1f v.1'~xlJ'Idr;nHr taught that Chrili felt no hunger or _ Ir~m, ·3· • lhirll, but ear only to make dcmontiration of the verity gfbis

humane nature: Nor chat S. H.lar! raul3ht that Chrif! in his iilil-erings had no rorrow j nor that Or~tn (aughc the paines of Hell nor rohave an etemall dllrallon : Nltuhat s. e,priffM taught rebaprizarion j nor that Athenag.riu condemned recond ma~riages; nor that S. J~hn CZJtlflnaft,n (aid, ChrW; only prayed in appeara&1ce, .'tlotrcally and in trurh , I w ill lee them all r~R

. m

~WJ

De verb, Dei 1.3,e. 1U. §. ,kc~

~.' • The Liherty ~f ProphehilZ.=_[g_. ) 5S

in peace, and their memOl:ies in ~on~l1r j fC?f if I fhould enquire

into the particular probations ot this Aft.I<;le, I muli doe .to

them as I Ihould be forced to doe now; It any man ihould lay

that [he Writings of the Sch?DI.men were. excellent Argu-

ment and Autbority to determine mens. perjw~lions; 1 mu~

confider their wridngs, and obferve their defalllances,. _their comradit'i:ions, the weakneffe oftheir Argumen~$, the m![-all;:

gadons of Scripture, their inconfeq uenr deductions , their. faLe

opinions, and all the weaknefies of ~um~~J[y, and the fall,tngs

of their perions, which no good man IS wIlllD& to d~e" unlelle he

be ccmpel'd to it by a pretence that they are tnfal}lb!~, or tha~

taey are followed by men eve.n into ~rrors ~r Imple~y. Ana

therefore (ince there is enough in [he tor~er m~ances, t_acure

any filch mifperfwal!on and prejudice, I will not mHance m the innumerable particularities t~~t might per.fv.:ade ustO keep our

Liberty intire or to ufe it diicreedy. For It 15 not ~o be. ~eny-

ed but rhar great advantages are to be made by their wrumgs,

& pro6111J1lt,ft 'l,,~d omni!'II, 'lItO~ Fl".ri~tlf, quod fopm1tllms VI.

dmrr ; If one wife man layes a rhtn~, It IS an .Argument. to me

to believe it in its decree of probation, chat IS, proporrionable

[0 {uch sn alfent as the Authoriry of a wife man can produc~,

and when there is nothing again!l ic tbat. is greater; and fo m

proportion higher and higher as more Wife m~n (fuch as t?e

old Doctors were) doe affirm ir. But ~hat which 1 coo;ptal!l

of is that wt look upon wile men tbac. lived long agoe wah 10

much veneration and mifiake J that we reverence them not for

having been wife men, but that they lived long fince, But

when the ~eflion.n concernl.n~ Authorry , there mufl bee

{omethillg tobuild It on ; a Divine Com~andment • hlllm.ane

SanCtion, excellency of fpirie, and weat.Delle of under~aFldmg ,

on which things all humane: ~ uthoriry 15 regularly builr, But

now if we had lived in their times (lor fo w.e muit look upon

them now, as they did who without prejudice beheld t~em) I

fuppo{e we fhould then have beheld rhem , as w~ in r.~gl"nd

lOok OD thofe Prelates, who are of great reputancn for lear-

ning and fan6t~ty; he~ o!-lyis the differen:e; ~ben pe~lo.n~

are iivinz their aurhorirv IS depreffed by rheir pencnall dd7Jl

lances a~d the contrary imereiis of their conteroporaIl.es,

, V 2. WbICh

-~-5 6-_-_-~:::;-;--_:--;_T_b,e_L_;6 __ e_rtJ~ofJ_P='0"JP-;-he=fy:-::in~'g" which disband when tbey are dead, and leave their credit intire upon the reputation of thore excellent ~ook$, and monumen~s of learning and piety which are left behindi But .beyond this why the Bifhop of Hippo lball have greater Authomy thea the Bifl10P of che.Can"riel,.uuril fJ4~i"lIl, I underfland not •. For did they that Iiv'd (tom[iance) Ill. S • .AII/hlle's time beheve all that he wrote? If they.did , they wer~ much too b}ame'., or die himfelfe was. teo blame for rctratlmgmu:h of It a little before his death, And if while he lived, bis affirmative was 110 more Authority, then derives fro~ the credit of one. very wiie man, aoainH whom·aWo very Wile men were oppofed; 1 know not why his Authority t1lOuld prevaile. further now; For there is nothing added co the Hr~ngthof his reafon, !inee that time, but only that he bath been in ~n:at etleem wuh ~o. Herity: And if that be all, why the opmion of the follOWing Ages,ihall be of more force then th~ opinion of ~hefirlt_ A~es, againfl whomS.fAlIJlin in many th1l1gs clearly did oppofe h~m. feite I lee no reafon . or whether the firll- Ages were agall1lt him 'or no, yet that h~ is approve~ by [he following Ag~s is no better Argumenr : for it makes hIS Authority not to be innate, but derive"'d from .the opinion of others, and (0 to be pTt~4ri", sad [0 depend upon orhers , who, if they fhould change [heir opinions, and fuch examples there have beep m 'ny ~ then.tnere were nothing left [0 urge our comenr eo him j. wbichwbea It was at the belt, was only this, becaufe he had the good .~ortune to be believed by them tbat came after, hemuH be (0 fhll j ~nd becaufe. it was no Argument (or the old Doctors before him, this will not be very good in his behalfe : The fame I (ay of any company of them,. I la¥ not 10 o~ all of. them,. ic is to no purpofe co Ia.y it, lor there IS no Q!lel_hoQ thl~day~n conrefiarion, in the explication. of which all theol~Wmers did conren~:

In the al11gnation of the Canon of Scriprnre, they never dId confenr for fix hundred yeares rogerherjand then by that time the Bifhops had agreed indiifent)y well, and but. inditf~rel1t1~, upon that, they fel) OIIt in nvemy more; and except it. be ID [he, ApoHels Creed • and Articles of Inch nature, there IS no:rhil)o which maYlNi~h ,any colousbe calkdaconfent, much !elfc

Jradilioll.Ulliver[all, ,

." ". - , - ",~11~1(

~.8.

The Liberty of Prophefjing.

1.5'7

----

4, But I will rather chufe to fhew the uncertainty of [hi, Numh. 4' Topick by fuch an Argument, which was not in rhe Fathers powe: to help, firch as makes no invafion upon their great rc-

putanon, which I defire £hould be preferved as facred as ic ought.

For other things, let who pleafe read Mr Dallle dll vr~y ujl/glf

du Peres; But I Ihall only confider that the Writings of the

Fathers have been (0 corrupted by the intermixture ofHeretich.

[0 many falfe books put forth in their names, [0 many of their'

Writings loll: which would more clearly have explicated tbeir

fenCe, and at laH an open profelIion made, and a trade of making'

the Fathers fpeak, not what themrelves thought,- but whar other

men pleated, that it is a great in{iance of God's providence and

care of his Church, that we have fo much good preferved in the

Writingl which _ we receive from the Fathers, and that all rrurh

iSl10t as clear gone, as is the certainty of their great AlIlhorilY'

and reputation.

The publi!hingbookslVith the infcription of great nJmes be-' 1{_Jm;f" ). gan in S.P411i'-s rime; for lome had tr<1f,lbled the Church of fh,jf"IQnica with a fal(e Epitlle in S. Pl/fll'Jname, arainlt the. inconvenience of which he arms them in 2 ThrjJz.;, "And thii1"

increafcd daily in rhe Church. The Arritml IVW[ an EpiHJe-

[Q CQnfflintilllf, under [he name.of .Ath"""JiIII, ani the clltlchl-- Ap Jog. Atilt. anI wrot againn (,jrill of -:.Alex.",dr;,l under the name ofTheo- HaC ad (_'OJl~ d.ret; aad of the Age in which the fevenrh Synod was kept, fl.inr. £'II[mlll reports, L;/;riJ fil/fa c81.brill,n v;rorum titillo t:ommen- V.~;BlrOI1. d41il fc.ttlTC omflia, It was then a pub!ike bufinelfe, and a trick' A. ·5<3-

not more bale then puhlick : But it was more ancient (hen 10,-

and it is memorable in the books i!lt:ibuted to S Ba/it, contain ..

iog thirty Chapters de JpiritH S.mao, whereof fi!i:een were,

plainly added by another .hand under the covert of S. B4J, as

appears in [he difference of the [tile, in the impeninenr digrelli.-

ens, againU [he cuflcme of that excellent man, by lome pJif,pes.

contradiCtory to others ofS, B4Jil, by citing tMe!WIIJ as d~ad

before-him, whQ yet lived three • y~ars alrer h.im, and by rbe- • ViJ.£lm!l •. ,. very frame and manner of [he diicoune , and yet l[ wasto hand_, ;" Ann"l.,

femly carried, and [0· well- ferv'drhe pUfJ:oles of men, that it-

was quoted under the title of S. B"fil by many" but without

::l3~il1g the. number ol'chaprers , and by S. John DII11Ufcw-in,

V J , sheie . "

'I'

I

iSS The Liherty of Prophefiing. Q.8.

----~--------~~--~~~~~~~

there words, BAjiliut;OI ope" trig;nt4 cd.'Pitum d.e Spirit» S .• d

L '.de in\Dgin. b r: d h b

orot.,. e/1r11phi!ochium, and 10 t e lame purpole , an In I e num er

'< NOlrOCOIl. of27& 29' chapters he is is cited by ·Ph~tiIIJ. by Ewth,miu" ~it.l.'3p.;, by Burch<lrd, by ZO''''''''!, Ba/f.m101' and ?f.icephorur ; but for Ibis

lee more in Era!lIfIl'fhis Preface upon this bcok ot"S.Bafit. There is an Epiflle aces Rill under the name orS.Hi:"o", Ad DemetriAde", vi gin,,,,"', and is of great ule in the QQ.eHion of Predeflination, with its appendices, and yet a very t learned man foo veares agcne did believe it to be written by a Pclagidn, and nndertahcs~to coniine divers parrs of it, as being high and confi, dent Ptldgitll'u[me, and written by Julia"u_s El'ft..Ed"ne"frr,but

Greg,Arim.;n grfgoritls eArimi"mji~ fron: S,lAu!!ill a!lilmes It. to have been •• fent.dift.l6.. written by Petatlltr hlmfelte. I might inflance In tOO many; There is not anyone of the Fathers who is efleemed Author of any conliderable number of books, that hath elcaped untouched. But the abufe in this kinde hath been 10 evident that []o1V if ;ny inrereffed perfo~ of ~ny fide b~ prefled with an Authority very pregnant aga1l1fl him , he thinks to e[cape ?y accufing the Edition , or the Author, or the hands It paned through, or at lail he therefore {uipects it , becaufe it .m.kes againlt him; both (ides beinz refolv'd thar they are rn the right, the Authorities rhar IheY ac'mir , they will believe not to be againlt them; and they which are too plainly againfi tl.em, (hal! be no Authorities: And indeed the whole world hath been 10 much abuted that every man thinks he hath reafon [0 lil'pecl wharfcever is againH him, that is, what he pl~a(e; which prcoceeding only produces this truth, that t~ere neither i. nor can beany certainty, nor very much probabilfty 1I1 iiich

Allegations, . . . •

But there is a worfe mifchiefe then this, befides thole very

*~~ .

many which are not yet difcovered , which like the pelhle~ce

detlroyes in the dark, and growes into inconvenience more 111- lenllbly.md more irremediably, and that is, corruption of particular places, by inferting words and altering them to contrary [cnies : A ciJin'< which the Fathers of the (ixth GeneraJl Synod

_ complain'd of ~ollcerning rhecontiirutions of S-.:(t,menr,quil"Js j.,m o/Im 11" ii) 'lui a fide «lun« Jentiunt I1dulet,i"a 'ltl'<tdam' (tiam putate elien« imrodHtfll funt 'lU~ d,vinGrum 11,6;1 Deeretarum (/(t,mmn

'j V. 13cda. de £,r:1[I;} Chrifli :ldv.luli~Il'll\.

fT.-----:; he Liherty ·~ir-;ph;]j~g.---~---- ---'--.-59---

~[eg~nmn & VOIuf,lZ11J !peeit", ob/eur,mlnt : And fo alfo have his Recognitions, fo have his Epiflles been ufed , if at lealt tbey were his at all, particularly the fifth Decretal! EpiltJe that goes under the name of S.Clement, in which community of Wives is raught upon the Authority of S. Lu~ faying [he firll:Chritlians had all things common j ifal! things. then Wives alfo fayes the EpiHle j a forgery like to have been done by lome Nico/4iI4", or other impure perfon : There is an Epiitle of

- Cyrill extant to Succ4[ur Bifhop of Discefere«, in which he relates that hee was ask'd by BudulBilbop of EmeJJ~ , whether he did approve of the EpifHe of e.4thllnlljius to EpiCleltf4

Bifhop of CorlNtlt. and that his anfwer was, Si bc« 4pnd Vol Eu[cb,l,*-C,13.' fcript4 non frnt "dultITII: JVa", plura ex hit ab hoftibus Eccle/io$

d<prehendu!)tur efT- depr"Vllta: And chis was done even while

the Authors chemi"elves were alive ~ for 10 Di~"Jjiut of Corinth

complan'd that his writings were corrupted by Herericks , and

Pope LIIJ, that his EpiHle to Flaviamu was perverted by tbe

Greeks: And in the Synod of CanHant;nople before quoted (the AC1.R,\'jd. eli •• ' fixth Synod) 0J{~clmus and his Di.ciples were convicted qftod am.Synod r, S""Boru,,, tcftimol1ia aut trunc;)r;Nt aut deprllvarint: Thus the a:r,4'

thitd Chapter of S. Clprilll1l book de unitate Ecc/e,Ja in the

Edition of PaINe/im fuffered great alteration: Thefe words

['Prim;ttul Petro d4tur] wholly inferred, and rhefe [[uper Ca·

thldr~tn Petri {tll1dlZta ell Ecdejia j and whereat it \VdS before,

foper $InHm .edified' Ecc!eji4W Chriflu;, rhar not being enough

[hey have made it foper [i!/uw Jrmll7n. NOIV rhefe Addition~ are

againH the faith of all ala Copies, before t_}1{i"uti,u and Pame-

/;'11, and againft Gr4/;"", even after himlelfe had beenchn+iz'd

by the Roman Correctors, [he Commi!faries of gregory XIII.

asis to be feen where there words are alledged, ?Jeer".c zq.

£22,. CJlII. 10'l"itNr 'Dominur 4d 'Petrum, So that we may fay of

C,pri4ns works as P amdiHshimfelf faid concerning hi. writings

and the wri.tings of other of the Fathers, ~ndl co/tigimHSJ(aicil Armor, Cy ri- ,. he) eJprian. for/pta fit & "!IWllm VeterN"," {i!Jrarus VArlC fu,jfe all,rUpe[.C~". _, ;~ttrpo!4t". But grllt;",. himlelfe could doe as fine a fear when cil, Canha~l •

he lilted, or elfe lome body did it for him, and it was in [his n.r,

very QaeGion, their beloved Article of the Popes Supremacy;

for4~ potnit. dift. h «, 16ttft fitr;, he quotesthefe words om:

ct

ii

l'

, I

.)

, i

160

The Li~ertJ of Proph'fJing. ~.:g.

ofS.Am~rofo. No" halmt 'P:/~; ~<t.mJltAtem-fJlI-;-n-D-"-h-a6ellt p;' trt. fidem; fidem, not fedem, It IS In S. Am6rofe; but this errour W2S made aurhenrick by being interred into the Code of tbe Law ofthe Catholick Church; and confiderins flow little notice the Clergy had of Antiquity, bur what was tr~nfmirted to them by qrati"", it will. be no great wonder t?at all this part of the ~vo!'ld f;vallowed luch ~ boleand the opinion that was wrapped In It. But I need not inflarxe m qratia" any funher.bur rererre anyone that detires to be fatisfied concernino thisCo:leClion ~fb~s, to Avgll/lll:llf Arcbbi!bop o_fTarrtrcm in ~mtl1datioNe gra-

v id. Ind. Ex. /14111, where ne fhall find fopperies and corruptions good (lore purg. Bdg. in noted by that learned man; But that the Ind;ceJ'8xpllrgatorii Bcnram, 8< commanded by Authority. and practifed with publike licente Flandr.Hi.pan ". profelfc.e to alter and correct the faying5 of the Fathers, and [0

POlttlg,1J.Nco· ~

poli.an.Hcma- r~conc!le l!lem to the Catholike Ienfe by putting in and lea-

num, lUn!lllllvmg. our, IS fo great an !mpolh:lre, fo unchrillian a proceeding, in pr:efal. ad that It h~th made the faith of all books and all Authors jutlly

Ind. Lxpurg, [0 be fUJpec1~d.j 'Pvc confi.ldering their infinite diligence and

Edg. Ib('" h h

IllllJlcrlln' !',p. great opponumty , as aVlllg ad moll of the Copies in their

2.75.Wi~1:ir.!t- own bands, together with an unfatisfiable defire of prevailing in tun. f\p,kg. their :igbt or i!1 thei~ wrong, they have made an abfolll~e delIl,rn,44,' ilrucllOn of tillS TOPICk, and when the Fathers lpeak * Larine,

• Videal LeCtor or brea!he. ill ~ Roman Dioc:efe, although the providence of Aildrcam Crj- God does infinirely over- rule them, and that it is next [0 tlovru", in Eel .. 3 miracle that in the Monuments of Antiquity, there is no Io lc!llt;cn, mO.re {~und tha.t ~an ~reten~ for their advantage then there if, IX loll. h,j. which Indeed IS infinitely incontidcrable , Yet our Q!!.eHions rlOhhi"lrbr.de and 11l1cenain_ties are infinitely multiplyed in Head of a probeidcl.r-~()m. bIe .anJ realonab'e determination. For fince the Latices al-

waycs cornplain'd of the Greeks [or privately corrupting the t Vicl.Ep. Ni- Ancient Records both of Councels and t Fathers, and now col.ri ,d ,,;i. the .Latine~ mal~e. open pr~felTion not of corrupring, but ofcorshrel.Jmperar- rectlng their wrItings (that s the word) and at the moH it was

but a humane aut~ority, and that of perfons not alwayes learned, and very often dcceiv'd j die whole matter is [0 unreaionable, that it is not worth a fimher difquifirion. But if anyone de fires to enquire further , he may be i;lIisfied in Er.jf1Jul, in HmY] and Ro6ert Strphmf, in rhek Prefaces

. before

The Liberty oJ ·Prophejjing.

161

before ~he Editi~ns of F~thers, an~ their Obfervations upon them: .m .BfUar~me de [crzpt.Ecc!e{ In Dr. Reynolds, ie fibris Apocryphu, In SCJlltger, and Robert CokJ of Leedes in York,ffhire in

his Book De cenfora P etrso», '

SECT. IX.

o/the im'01npetewy of the C_hurch .in its J;lfufive colFdCity to be judge oJControverfiu,and the Impertmency afthat pretence of the Spirit •

·AN~ now aft~~ all thefe conl1derations of the feverall To- Nllmt. I.

picks, Tradition, Councels, Popes and ancient Dottors of the ~hurch, I fuppofe it will not be necefsary, to confider the JUthority of the Church apart. For the Church either (peaks by Tradition, or by a reprefentarive bod y ill a Councel, by Pope~,o'r by the Fathers: for the Church IS not a Chimer«, not a Ihadow but a company of men bdeeving in J cfirs Chrifi, which men ei~ thc~ fpeak.by themfelves im~ediatdy, or by their Rulers, or by their proxies and reprcfentarives ; now I have confidered it in all fenfes butin its diffiuivc capacity; in which capacity J11e cannot be fuppofed to be a Judge of Controverfies, both becaufe in that capacity Ihc cannot teach tls.as alfo becaufe ifbv a judge we mean all the Church ditfufed in all its parts and members, f~ there can be no controverfie, for if all men be of that opinion, then there is no quefhon conceited ; if they be not :>11 of a mind, how can the whole diffufive Catholike Church be pretended in defiance of any o~e article.where the diffuf:ve Church being divided, part eocs this way, and part another? But ifit be faid.rhe grearef] part ~lUfl: carry it; Betides that. it is impoffib!e fo~ LIS to know which way the greateft part goes III many quellions.it IS not alwaies true that th~ rreacer part is the befr, fomerimes the contrary is mofc ccr, tam, and it is often very probable, but it is alwayes poffible. And

When paucity offollow,:rs was objeded to LiberiltJ, he gavc this Theod. I. l. c, 11,1 ~nfwe:, There was a time when but three Children of the Cap- 16. !tift.

tlVlty refilled the Kings ~e~ree. And Athtll1ajilf5 wrote on pur- Tom.z ,

pole agamil: thofe that did Judge of truth by multitude!', and in-

dee? it concerned him fo ~o doe, when he alone Ilood in the gap

ag:unft the numerous armies of the Arrians •

X Em.

162

But if there could in this cafe be any difiinct confideration of the Church, yee to know which is,the Frue Ch~rch is fo hard t? be found out, that the greateft quefiions of Chnftendolll,e are jud. ged before you can get to your Judge, and then ,there IS no ne~ or him. Forthofequefi:ions wluch are concerrung the Judgeot quefiions muft be determined before yO? can fubmit to his ju~ge. menr, and if you can your felve~ ?eternunc chofe great qneflion, which confifc much in univerfalities, then alfo you may determine the particulars as being of lcfs difficulty. And he that confiders how many notes there are given to ~now the true Church, no JelS then 15, by Bellarmjne, and concerning everyone of them aJm~ whether it be a certaine note or no there are very many qudh. oris and uncertainties , and when it is refolved which are the notes there is more difpute about the application of thefe notes'then of the n'~n><e";""''', will quickly be fatislied that he had better fit frill then to goc round about a difficult and troublefome pafsage, and at lafl: get nofurth{!~, but returne to the "bee from whence he firft fet our. And there IS one note ~mongfr rh, ref 1', Holinefs of Doctrine, that is, fo as to have nothing faUe either in <JJoFlrjnd fide; or, mormn" (for fo Bell,zrmine explicates it) which fuppofes all your Conrroverfies, judged before rhey can be tryed by the authority of the Church, and when we have found out all true Doctrine/for that is necefsary to, judge of the Church by, that as Saint e.Auftin's councellis Eccle{i4m in vel'bi&, (hrijli inv1figcmU5) then we are bound to follow becaufe we Judge It true, not bccaufe the Church hath faid.ir, and this is to judge of the Church by her Doctrine, not of the Doctrine by. the Church. And indeed it is the beft and only way; But then how to judge of chat Doctrine will be afterwards inquired into. In the meaae rime, the Church, that is, the Governours of the Churches are to judge for themfelves,& for all rhofewhoca~not judge for t~emfelves. For others, they muf] know that their Governours Jud~e for them too, [0 as to keepe them in peace and obedience.though not for the determination of their private perfwafions, For the Oeconomy of the Church requires that her authority be r~(~ived by all her children. Now this authority is divine in irs ?fl~lt1al,I, for it derives immediately from Chrifr, but jt is humane rn Irs m!· niirration. W (' are to be lead like men not like beafts ; A nile 15

pre-

The Liberty of Prophejjing.

---------------

prefcribed for the guides them,fdves to fo~low, as ~e are to follow the guides; and although 111 matters indeterminable or ambil'UoU5 the prefumption lyes on behalfe of the Governours, (for we do nothing for authority if we fuffer it not ro weigb that part down of an indifferency and a queflion which Ihc choofes) yet if there be error manifeftm, as it often happens, or if the ChurchGovcrnoursthemfelves be rent into innumerable feCl:s, as it is this day in Chriliendorne , then we arc to be as wife as we can in choofmg our guides, and then to follow fo long as that reafon remains for which we firf!: chofe them, And even in that Government which was an immediate fand:ion of God, I mean the Ecdelia!l:icall aovernment of the Synagogue, where God had con!i!!l1'd the Hl".h.Priefi:sauthority with a menace of deat~ to them

- that thould dirobey, that all the world might know the meaning and extent offuch precepts,and that there is a limit b,eyond which theycannot command, and we ought not to obey': l,t came,~nce [0 thar pafs , that if the Priefi had been obeyed rn his Conciliary deerees, the whole Nation had been bound [0 beleeve the con. demnation of our blefsed Saviour to have been jufr, and at another time the Apo!l:Ies mufr no more have preached in the name of JE sus. But here was manifell error.And the cafe is the fa~e to every man that invincibly and therefore innocently beleeves It lo, neo potiUJ 'iu""! hom;;;i6~ is our r,ule i? fuch cafes. For al. though every man Is bound to follow his guide, uokfs he ~deevcs his guide to millead him; yet when he fees reafon agamfl: hIS guide, it is bell: to follow his reafon : for though in t~IS he may fall into error> yet he will efcape rhe fm; he may doe violence t? truth but never to his own coafcience , and an honefr errol' IS bett;r then an hypocriticalJ proferr~on of truth, ?r a violent luxation of the under!l:anding, finceif he r~tams hIS honefiy and limplicity, he cannot erre in a matter of faith or abfolute nccefficy: Gods goodnefs hath fecurd all honefr and carefiill perfons from that' for other things, he rnufi follow the befi guides he can, and h~ cannot be obliged to follow better then God hath

given him. , , N I

And there is yet another way pretend~~ of infallible 11m,;. 3·

Expoiitions of Scripture , and that is, by the Spirit. ~m of~hls

,lllull f:lj'no more, but that it is impertinent as to this qndi:l?l1,

X 2 I-~)r

.. i

SECT. X.

of the authority of Rea[ofi, and thdt it proceed;i1g llpOil {tjl gio:mdJ If

the beft judge,

HEre. then I confider, that although no man may be truHed Nmn6. r, to Judge for all others,unlefs this perfon were infallible and authorized [0 to doe, which no man nor 110 company of men is

yet every man may be rrufled to judge for himfclf', Ifsy ew:ry

man that can judge at all, (as for others they are to be faved as

it pleafeth God) but others that can judge at all mull either

choofe their guides who fhal! judge for them, (and then they of.

tentimcs doe the wi[eft, and alwayes [ave rhemfelvesa labour,

but then they choofe too) or if the): be perfons of greater under.

flanding, then they ~re to choofe for thcmfelvo, in particular,

what the others doe In gencraII, and by choofing their guide· and

for this any man may be ~ette.r trL1ll:e~ for himfelfe then any man

can be for another: For 111 this cafe hIS own inrcrefl is mo11 con.

cerned , and ability is not fo necefsary ashondly, which certain.

ly every man will bef] preferve in his owne cafe, and [0 himfelfe

(and ifhe does not, it is he that mull fmart for'r) and it is no~

required of us not to be in errour, but that we endeavour to a-

void it.

2. He that followes his guide fo far as his reafon goes along Numb.:, with him, or which is all one, he that followes his owne rcafon

(not guided onely by naturall arguments.bur by divine revelation,

and all other good meanes) hath great advanrases over him that

gives hirnfclfe wholly to follow any humane gclde whatfocver

becaufe he followesall their reafons.and his'own too; he follows

them till reafon leaves them, or till it feernes fo to him, which IS

all one to his particular, for by the confeffion of all fides, an erro,

n~ous Confcience binds him, when a right guide does not bind him. But he tha~ gives him~~lfe I~P wholly to a guide is often. tunes (I meane, If he be a difcerning perf on ) forc'd to doc vio. knee to his own underfcandlog ; and to lofe all the benefit of his owne difcretion, that he may reconcile his reafon to his guide.

And of this we fee infinite inconveniences in the Church ofRomf~ I

j X 3 for

1I iiiiIiiiIIiiiiiiii iIIIiIlIIIIIII~ lIiiiiiiiIiiiilliiiliiilililiiliiliIiiiiiiii j

164

The Liberty vf 7'ropbejJing.

For put (>1[~ the Spirit is given to fome men enabling them to expound infallibly, yet becaufe this is but a private affiftance, and cannot be proved to others, this infallible afTilcance may de. terrnine my own afsenr, bur Ihall not inable me to prefcribe to o. thcrs, be~ufe it were unreafonablc I Ihould, unlefs I could prove to him that I have the Spirit, and fo can fecure him from being deceived, ifhe relyes upon me. In this cafe I may fay as S. Paul in the cafe of praying with the Spirit, He verily givetl, thank.! Well, bllt the other is not edified. So that let this pretence be as true as it will, it is fi!fficient that it cannot be of coruideration in this quefiion,

The refclr of all is this; Since it is not reafonable to limit and prcfcribe t~ all me~511nderftandillg.sby. any exter?all ,rule in the interpretation of difficult places 01 .cnpture which IS our rule:

Since no man nor company of men is fecure from error, or can fecurc us that they are free from malice, interef]; and defign ; and fince all the wayes by which we ufually are taught, as Tradition, Councels, Decretals, &c. arc very uncertain in the matter, in their authority, in their being legitimate and natural], and many of them certainly falfc, and nothing certain but the divine autho, rity of Scripture, in which all that is necefsary is plain, and much of that that is not necefsary is velY obfcurc.inrricate and involv'd, either we mufi fet up our refr, onely upon articles offaith, and plain place!', and be incurious of other obfcurer revelations, (which is a duty for perfons of private underfiandings, and of no pub like function) or if we will fearch further (to which in fome meafure the guides of others are obliged) it remains we inquire how men may determine themfelves fo as to doe their duty to God, and not to difserve the Church, that every fuch man may doe what he is bound to, in his perfonall capacity. and as he relates to the publike as a publike minifier,

III"!

§. IO.

The Li6eilJ of 'hop/;cfjitJ[.

T/;,' Liberty of Prop!leJjing.

166

§. to,

for we finde perfons of great underflanding , oftentimes Io amliLed with the authority of their Church, that it is pity to fee them fwear in an[wering forne objections, which they know not how to doe, but yet beleeve they mull, becaule the Church hath faid it. So that if they reade.Itudy, pray, fearch records, and ufe all the means of art and indnilry in the purfuite of truth, it is not with a refolution to follow that which GnU [cern truth to them but to confirm what before they did beleeve.and if any argumen: {hall feeme unanfwcrable againil any Article of their Church they are to take it for a temptation, not for an illumination and they are to ufe it accordingly: which makes them make th; Devil! to be the Author of that which Gods Spirit hath alTifted them to find in the ufe of lawfull means and the Jearch of truth. And when the Devill of falfbood is like to he caU out by Gods Spirit, they fay that it is through Beehefm6; which was one of the worft things that ever the Pharifees faid or did: And was it not a plain fiifling ofthe jull: and reafonable demands made by the Emperour, by the Kings of Frence and Splline, and by the ablefl: Divines among them which was ufed in the Councell of Trent. when they demanded the reflitution of Prieils to their Ii. berry of marriage, the ufe of the Chalice, the Service in the vull?lr Tongue, and thefe things not onely in purfuance of Truth,but for other great and good ends, even Co cake away an infinite fcandall and a great fchifrne ? And yet when they them [elves did profefs it, and all the world knew thefe reafonable demands were denyed rneerly upon a politick confideration, yet that thefe things Ihould be franrd into articles. and decrees of faith, and they for ever after bound not onely not to defire the fame thing,. but to think the contrary to be divine truths: never was Reafon made more a flave or more ufelefs. Mull: not all the world fay, elther they mull: be grear hypocrites, or doe great violence to their nnderftanding. when they not onely ceafe from their claim, but milt']; alfo beleeve it to be unjufi? If the u[e of their reafon had not been reflrained by the tyrannic & imperioufhefs of their guide, what the Emperour, and the Kings, and their Theologues would have done, they Gill befl: judge who confider the reafonabknefs of the demand, and the unreafonablenefs of the dcnyall.

B:.lt we fee many wi:c men who with their Optnndum eifet II~~~;_ J

S·IC.

Th~ Li6er~ of Propht'Jjing.

clifililicentilim daret, &c. proclaimc to all the worldjhar in forne thmgs they confent and doe not confent, and doe not heartily beIeeve what they are bound puhlickly co profefs , and Ehey them[elves would c1eerly fee a difference, if a contrary decree fhould be fram'd by the Churc~, they would with an infinite greater confdence fell: themfelves mother propofttions thea what they mufi bele~ve as the cafe now Ll:ands, and they would hnd that the authority of a Church is a prejudice as often as a free and modefl ufeof reafon is a temptation.

3' God will have no man prefsed with anothcrs incenvcnien- N l cesin matters Ipirituall and intelledualk no mans fllvation to de- IImll. ~. pend upon anothe~, and every rooth that eats fowre grapes [hall '

be ~et on ed~ for It (elfe, and for none eIfe: and this is remarks-

ble in thatfaymg o!God by the Propher, If the 7~phetcedfes to Ez,k.;i. t~Il,!,J pf~ple ofthm' fins, tlHd leads them ;nto- m'Oi'.th~ people /hll!l

d,e In their jinJ,~ttd the. blood of them I \\Jill require lit th~ hands of

tha,t Prophet: Mcamng, that God hath fo fet the Prophets to

gwde us, that w~ alfo are to .follow them by a voluntary afsent

by an at!: of choice and eledion, For although accidentally and occafionally the Ih~ep rna? perilh by the Ihepherds fault, yet that

which hath the chleftfl:. inrluence upon their finall condition, is

theIr o.wne aCl: and eledion, and therefore God hath [0 appoin-

ted guides to us, that if we periili,it may be accounted upon both

o~ (wres~upon ourow~ and the guides too, which [ayes plain-

I), that although we are intruficd Co our guides, yet we are in-

rrufred,to our [elves too. Onr guides mu1i: direct us, and yet if

they faIle, God hath not fo left us to them, but he. hath eiven us

~nough !O our [elves to difcover their failings,and our ow~ duties

In all things l1I~ce~ary. And for other things we muLl: doe as well

as w~ can. But Jt IS bcfi to follow our guides, if we know

nothmg better; but if we doe, it is better to follow-the pillar of

fire, than a pillar of c.lo~d, though both po1libly may lead to Ot-

~I/4H.: B_ut then alfo It IS po1lible that it may be orherwife. But I

rm lure In doe my own befl:,then if it be befl:to follow a Guide,

and if it be al[o necefsary, .1 {hall ~e fure hy Gods grace and my

OWn endeavour, to get to It ; Rut If I without the particular in-

~rmcnt ,of my own underftanding, follow a guide, poffibly I

y be gutlty of ext ream negligence, or I may exringuifh Gods Spirit,

169 1
:f
",
':
i
,i
:
,
':
,
,
"
,
,f
:
:
iii
I'
i'
' H
~
»1' §. 10. The Liberty -of Prophejjiu£"

--------------------

The Liberty of Propb~6'ing.

168

§.lC,

~;Ience to my own reafon. And whether intr~ing my felf who1Jy with another, be not a laYl,ng up my tale,nt 111 a napkin, I am not fo wel1 afsured. I am certa~n the ot?er IS not. And Iince another mans anfwering for me will not hinder, but that I alfo fhall anfwer for my felf ; as it concerns him to fee he does not wilfully mifguide me, fo it co~cerns me to ~ee that he (hal! not if I can help it, ifI cannot it Will not be required at my hands: whether it be his fault, or his invincible error, I Ihall be:

charg'd with neither. " ,

Nllmb, '1', 4. This is no other then what IS en!oyned as a duty •. For fmce

God will be jufiified with a free obcdle~ce, and th~re IS ~n obedience of underfiandine as well as of Will and affechon, It 15 of Gfeat concernment as ~o be willing to beleeve what ever God fayes, fo alfo to enquire diligently whether the will of God b~ f()

Mar. I r. 10. as is pretended. Even our aCl:s of'underfranding are ads of choice,

Jab. 5, 40. and therefore it is commanded as a duty, to {earch the Scripmres,

r Joh·4. 1. to try the fPirits wherhenhey be of God Of' i/O; of9m/elva to 6~flbk

Ep'd: r , 17· tl))'udffe wh.-It is riel», to trV all thino), Imd to reteene thlllwhlch u,

Lck,24"f. , '" J "'r.d "I b

)\om. 3, II. bej. ·For he that refolves not to coni I cr.reio yes not to ~ care-

I. 18. full whether he have truth or no, and therefore hath an,affeCbon A :"'C, >. " indifferent to truth or fa1!hood, which is all one as If he did A\t. 17· 11. choofe amifs , and fince when things are truly propounded and made reafonable and intelligible we cannot but afsent, and then

it is no thanks to us ' we have no way to give our wills to God in matters ofbelicfl~ but by our indufiry in fearching it and. ex~mini ns the grounds upon which the propounders build their dll'btes~ And the not doing it is oftentimes a caufe that qod give, a man over ,j, .,;. ~Jo .. ,u.o" into a reprobate and undifcerning-

mind and underftanding. , . '

j','gm6. 5, j'. And this very thing (though men will not underfiand It) IS

the perpetuall practice o~ all. men in the world that can gIve ,a reafonable account of their faith. The very Catholike Church It Ielfc is rationabilis ef,~ ttbiti dif{ufa, faith OpWIU, rea~onable, as well as diffUfed, every where. For take t~e Profelires of the

Church of Rome even in their greateft fiibmiflion of underfiandine- thev fcem t~themfdvcs to follow their reafon ~oft of all. Forify,;u tel! them, Scripture and Tradition are their rules to follow, they will bcleeve you when they know a reafon fora~J

J

and if they take you upon your word, they have a reafon for thlt too, either they beleeve you a learned man, or a good' man, or chat you can have no ends upon them, or fomething that is of an equall height to fit their underfiandrngs. If you tell them they muft beleeve the Church, you mufr tell them why they are bound to it, and if you quote Scripture to prove it, you mufi give them lezve to judge, wherher thc words alledged fpeakyour fenfe or no, and therefore to difsent if they fay no [uch thing. And althouah all men are not wife, and proceed difcrectly, yet all make their"choice fome way or other. He that choofes to pleafe his fanric cakes his choice is much, as he thatchooftsp(udently. And no man fpeaks more unrcafonabljjrhen he thatdenyrs to men the ute of their Reafon in choice of their Religion. For that I may by the way remove the common prejudice, Rcafon and Authority are not things incompetent or rcpuglllnt, cfpecially when the Authority is infallible and fuprcmc . for there!s 1)0 greater reafon in the world thea to beleeve fueh an authority, But then we roufr confider, whether every authority that pretends to be fuch, isfo indeed. And therefore 'Delli dixit, ergo hoc uerem err, is the grcatef] demonftration in the world for things of this nature, But it is nor fo in humane dictates, and yet rcafon and humane aurhority are nor enemies.For it is a good argument for lIS to follow fuch an opinion, bccaufe it is made Iacred by the authority or' Councells and Ecclefiafiicall Tradition, and fornctimes it is the beft reafon we have in a quefi:ion, and then it is to be fi:rittly fol. lowed.bur there may alfo be at other times a rcafon greater than it that Ipeaks againfi: it,lnd then the authority mufi not carry it. But then the difference is not berweenrcafon and authority, om between this reafon and char, which is greater: for authonty is a Itry good reafon, and is to prevaile, unlefs a frronger comes and difarms it, but then it mufr give place, So that in this quefiion by [Re4onJ I doe net llleln~a difiinctTopick ~ but J ,t~anrc~nd('"c .rhar runs through all Topicks, for Reafon, like LOgICK, IS infiru, menr of all things dCc, and when Revclation , and Philofophie, and J;ublick Experience, and all other grounds of'probability 0:'

. delTlonfirarion have fi.lpplycd lIS with matter, then; ReJ Ion docs bUlmakcuft~ ofrhen1, th~~is, inplain terms, there bcin" fQ ffi,,~ nYI\·.y.c$ofargli.ing, fom~nY:r.Cl:s, fLl.i:~ 4iff~,ring'ii1~t'fcl\:i ~ :[,::1

" . '".. y, ... " ", vancty

Li., "

---",","~'~---~------------

170

The Liherty Qf Troph4jing.

: :

-variety of authority, fo ma,ny pretences, and Io m~ny, £alii: be. liefes it concerncs every Wile man to confider which IS the bell: argu~ent,which propofirion relies lIron th~ trucO: grounds: & If this were not his only way,why doe men difpute and urge argumenrsjwhy do they.c!te Counccls & Fathers,why do theyalJcdge Scripture and Tradition, and all this on all fides, and to con~rary purpofes ? If we mull: judge, then we ml~ we OUf reafon , If we mull: not judge. why doe they _produce. eVI~ence ? Let them leave diijlUting and decree propofit.lons magillerially, bu~ then we may choofe whether we will believe them or no; or If they fay we mnftbclicve them, they llmft prove it, and tell us why. And all thefc difpuees concerning Tradition, Co~mcclls, Fathers,. &c. are not arguments againft or befides reafon'; but contefrations and pretences to the bell: argllments,and the moft certain fatisfaClion of our reafon. But then all thefc comming into queftion, fubmit themfelves to reafon, that is, to be judged ~y ~wl'lane underfiandin£" upon the befr g_r~l1nds and information It can receive. ,S? that Scripture, Tradition, CounceJls, and Father,S, are t~e eVIdcnce in a queftion, but Reafon is the Judge:That IS,we bemg the perfons that arc to be perf waded, we mull fee that we be perliv~. ded reafonably and it is unreafonable to afsent to a lefser CVIdenc .. , when a greater and cleerer is propo~nded,but oftha.t every man for himfelfe is to take cognifancc ifhe be a~le to )udgr, if he be not he is not bound under the tye of neceflity to know any thing of it ; that, that is ~ecefsary Ihall be certainly conveyed to him,God that befr can, Will certainly take care.fo.r that /Qrtf he does not it becomes to be not necefsary i or If It [hould ftlll remain nec;fsaty, and he damned for not knowi~g it, and yet to know it be not in his power, then who can help It? the.rc can be no further care in this bufincfs. In other things,there being no ab~ folute and prime neceffiry, we arc left to our liberty to judge that way that makes beft dernonfiration of our piety and of our love to God and truth, nor that way that is alwayes the beft argument of an excellent underfcanding.for this may be ablciling,buc

the other onely is a duty. . .

And now that we arc pitch'd upon that way which IS (!IOfina. turall and reafonable in det€rmination of ' our felves rather then of cueftions which are often indererminabk, fince right, rcafon - -L P' - - , pro-

I~I

Numb.e.

§.IO.

§.IO.

proceedina upon the beft grounds it can, vk. of divine revelati. on and h~ane anthority, and p,robabilitr is our ~i.de. ( SttVld. i/l hU17unu) and fuppoling the afiilhnce of Gods Splflt(whld.l he never denies them that bile not of ,their duty in all f"ch things in which he requires truth and certainty) it rcmames t".at we confider how it comes to pars that men are fo much deceived In the ufe of their reafon, and choke of their Religion, and that in this account we difl:inguith thofe accidents which .makc error in. nocent from thole which make it become a herefie,

••

.

"

•

SECT. XI.

Offome CflUfoJ of Erreur in the e.r:ercife ofRcafon which are Inculp,,Itt in themjeiveJ.

r, THen I confider, that there are a great many inculpable Numb I

cautes of Errour, which are arguments of humane imper, ~.

feCi:ions. not convictions of a Iinne, And (1.) the variety of hu.

mane underfiandings is fo great, that what is plaine and apparent

to one. is difficult and obfcure to another; one will obterve a

confequent from a common principle, and another from thence

will conclude the quite contrary. When S.'Peter faw the vifion of

the Iheer let downe with all forts of'beafts in Ir, and a voice fay-

ing, SIJrlJe P etn,m.1[fa G"" ;n.m1:!crt, if he had not by J. particular ~ffilb.nc~beene directed to the meaning of the holy Ghofr, pof-

Ilbly he might have had other apprehenfions of the meaning of

that vifion, for to my [elfe it feemcs naturally to fpeakc nothing

but the abolition of the Mofaicall rites, and the refiiturion of us

to that part of'Chrifiian liberty which confifcs in the promifcu-

ous eating of meates, and yet betides this, there want not fome underftandings in the world, to whom thele words Ieemc to eive

Saint 'Peter a power to kill heretical! Princes. Me thinkes itis a

Itrange undcrfianding thar makes fuch extractions, but 11o'{.j,..

and 'l!rtronim did fo. But men may undcrfiand what they plcafe,

elpccially when they arc to. expound Oracles. It was an argu-

ment of fome wit, but of Iiugulariry ofunderfranding, that h1P-

ned in the grelt contefiation betwcene the Mifsalls of Saint ..-1l7'""

brQ./1: and Slim gYe~Oi')'. The lot was throwne, and God made

~ y ~ to

!

~

.'

i.

J

to be Judge, (0 as he was tempted to a miracle, to anfiver a lJuefrion which rhemfelves mi,;ht have ended without much trouble, The two Mifsals were laid upon rheAltar,& thcChurch door {hu' and iealec' .v,y [he morrow Mattins they found S.fJrl·ffo·,·i", Mifsali torne in pieces (f.'ith the {tory ) and thrown about c~hc Church but ~ • .Amfr,o[e'J open'd and hid upon the Altar in a pofiere of bei':lg read. If I had been to judge of the meaning of this Miracle,I J11011ld have made no fcruple to have faid it had .bcen the will of God that the Mifsall of S. Ambnfe which had been anci. ently ufed, and publickly tryed and approved of, Ihould fiill be reid in [he Church, and that of("yegoiJ let alone, it beins torn by .rn Angdi(all hand as an argument cf its imperfection, gr of the inconvenience of innovation, But ret they judg'd it orherwife for by the tcaring and [cattl'ring about, they thought it wa: meant, it Ihould be ufed over all the world, and that of S . ..Am. broje read oncly in [he Church ofv1[ilt~im. I am more. fltislicd that the former was the true meaning , then I am of the truth of the ftory: But we mufi firppofe that, And now there might have been eternal di[pntings about the meaning of the miracle.and nothing left to determine, when two fancies arc the litigants, and the comefiarionsubour probabilities hinc iud«. And I doubt not this was one caufe offo gl"'~at variety of opinions in the Primitive Church.when they proved their Icvcrall opinions whieh were mvficrious queftions of Chrifrian Theologie , by tefi:imonies out of the obfcurer Prophets, out of the PIalrnrs and Canticles, as who pleafe to obfervc their arguments of difcourfc and aCl:ior.s of Ccuncel Ihall perceive they vcry much ufed to doe.Now although mens underflandings he not cquall, and. that it is fit the beft undcrfiandings fhould prevailc, yet that will not fatisfie the. weaker underfiandings, . becaufe all. men will not think that another undcrfhnding is better then his own; at leaf] not in fitch a particular, in which with fancy he hath pleafed himfelf. But commonly they that areleal] able, are moft bold, and the more ignorant is the more confident, therefore it is but reafon ifhe would have a· r.othcr beare wirhhim, he alfo Ihould.beare with another, and if he will not .bc prefcribed to, neither let him prcfcribc to others. And there is the. more rca Ion in this, becanfe fuch moddly is commonly to be,defircd, of the more imperfect jfor wife men

know,

§.II.

§. r r.

'J"fJe Ljber~y cf PropbefJing.

I 73 _.-_.---:-::-:-:--:--:--------.{I10" t1ie-grolHd of'thcir pcrf\\"alio;l, and have their [oJlfid(y",· proportionable to their evidence', .O[)lers1ilve nor, Lur CVcT -c\(t

[heir trifles : and therefore I faid it is' bur a reafo.iablc cmlJnd,

that they that have t.he l~Jft rcafo.i {h m!j nor .b:: mofi imperi.

011,; and for others It being reafO'1J~!t enough, tor all t;l~ir great

adv~ntages upon other mea, they WIll be foone pcrfivaded to it .

for although wife men might be bolder, in rcfpect of the perfon~

of others lefs difcerning, yet they .know there are but few

thinss fo certaine as to create much boldncfs and confidence ofa&ertion, If they doe nor, .they are not the men I take them

for .

. 1. W~e:l an aCl:ion ~r o?inio~ is cornmcnc'd \\iGh zcalcand Num», c. piety againft a knowne vice or a VltlOU5 perfon, cornmonlv all the

rniCrakes of it's proceeding are made Iacred by the boline.s of the

principle, a_nd foabufes the.p~rfwafions of good people, that

they make It as a Characterifrick note to difiinguifh good per-

fons from bad; and then whatever error isconfecrared by this

means, IS therefore made the more lafting, becaufe itis accounted

holy, and the perfons are not eafilv accounted hercricks becaufc

they erred upon a pious principle •. Thei e is a mcmorableinfcancc

10 one of the grearef] quclrions of Chrifiendomc, z·i" .. conccrninz

~mlges. For when Phifippi;';;1 had efpycd the images of the fi~

hrftSynods upon the frc~,' c,·- a Church, he caufed them to be

pl!lle~ down; now he did it ii; hatredof the fixth Synod : for

he b~1llg a Monothelite fcood condemn'd by that Synod. The Ca-

thollqlles that were zealous' for the fixth Synod, caufed the ima-

ges and reprefentments to be put up againc, and then fpruna the

'lueftion concerning the lawfullnefs of images in Churches '"ol'bi_

lippiclHand his parry firived by [uppreIllng imaces to do difp:t- v.a P ,. ,

h fi d r the Carholi ~ ., .rn .111.

ragement to t c ixth Syno : tne Catholiques to prefcrve the ho, Draccnu.r,

sour of the Iixth Synod, would uphold images. And then the

qUdhon came to he changed, and theywho werceafic cncuah to

be periiva~cd to pull downe images, were over-awed by ;.i?pre-

JUdlte agltnfl: the lIfui:otbelires, and the MonotiJdilCS frriv'ci to

mai,ntli? the advantage they had got by a jnli: and pious pretence

agJlllfr Images, The Mon~thtl:te,. would have leLLlf'd their error

by the ad:ancage and confoci.irion of a truth, & the other would

rather defend a dU:,ious and difputable error', rhan Iofe and let

y .. 3 ' - £,)e

The LJhert} of Prophefjing.

174

.~--------------~~-------

goe a certain truth. And thus the cafe Ilood , and the fuccefsor.

of both pam were led invinci?ly •. F~r ~'I'hen the H.erdic of the Monothelites disbanded, (which It did 10 a while after) yet the opinion of the Iconoclafis, & the queftion ofImages grew ftron. ocr. Yet fince the IconoelaftS at the nrft were Heretiques, not for their breaking Images,but for denying the two wils of Chrifi:, hi, Divine and his Humane: that they were called Iconoelafts was to difiinguifh their opinion in the quefrion concerning the Imaocs but that then Iconoclafis fo eafily had the reputation of Her~ti~ks, was becaufe of the other opinion which was conjunCl: in their perfons , which opinion men afrcnva.rds did not. eafily diftingllilb in them, but took them for Hereticks 111 grots, and whatfoever they held co be heretical]. And thus upon this prejudice grew g.reat advantages to the veneration of Images, and tbe perfons at tirft were much [0 be exccfed, becaufc they were mif.. guided by that which might have ab~fed the bdl ?len. And If EpiplJ.wiru who was as zealous agawft Images. 111 Churches a, 1'1,ilippicJ!.S or Leu lfaurw, had but begun a publike contcfiation, :!I1d engaged Empcrours to have made Decrees a~linfr them, Chrificndom would have had other apprchenfions of It,thcn they had when the Monothelites began it. For few men will e~dure 1 truth from the mouth of the Devill, and if the perf on be JlIfpectcd, [0 are his wayes too. And it is a great fiibtlety of the Devill I;) to tern per trut hand falthood in the fame perfon, that truth mar lofe much of its reputation by its mixture with error, and the CITor may become more plaufible by rcafon of. its conjundion with truth. And this we fee bv too much expcnence, for we i~'(' many truths are blalted in their reputation, becaufc perf on>

whom we think we lute IlptlIl jull: grounds of Religion, have tClllsht them. And it was plainenough in the cafe of MaldonAI, tint J:tid of an explication of a place of Scripture, that It was 11101l: a"recable to Antiquity, but becaufe Calui» had fo expoun-

ded ir,he therefore cholc a new one. This was malice, But when a pre~ld ice works tacirelv, undifcernably, and irrcffhbly of the 1'lTl(1I1 fo wrought upor.thc man is to be pirycd.not condc~U1ed, rll"ll~h poflibly his opinion ddervcs it highly. And theretor.: It hath 1c\"n ufiull to ditircdit doctrines by the pcrfonall defa_lliln. res of them that preach them: or with the difrcputation of t~:~

j(:CL

1n ,:;'p (..lo~ Ll:1.

The Livfrty of Pi',pbejjing •.

----~~~------------

§. II.

---------------------==

l75

(elhhat maintains them in conjwKl:ion with other ·perverfe doClrines. FllllftUJ the Manichee in S. AII(ljfl, glorie~ much, that in L.'o.c j.conr, their Religion ~Qd was wo~ippc~ pur~ly and without Images. Fa,,{lu11l ",hn. S Au17jn liked It well for fa It was In his too, but from hence! .r.c.ulr.de

. l' • I d . h 1 Imaurn Sandm concludes, that to pul own Images In Churc eswas t ie u'

herefteofthe Manichces. The Jews endure no Images, therefore

Be/lllnninc makes it to be a piece of judaifme to oppofe them.

He mioht as well have concluded againfi faying our prayers, and Dc r eliq. S5. Church mufick, that it is judaicall, becaufe the Jews ufed it. And l.::c.~.:,.tl. hewould be loth to be ferved fo himfeff, for he that had a mind NICOlaus.

to ufe fuch arguments, might with much better probability (on-

c1udeagainfr their Sacrament of extreme unchon , becaufe when

the miraculous healing was cealed, then they were not Catho-

liques, but Hereriques that did transferrc it to the ufe of dying

perfons, (fayes lren;f.u~;) for fo did the Valentiuians: And indeed L. IC. S. adv, this argument is fomething better then I thought for at firlt, be- L~r.

caufe it was in Ireneus time reckoned among the heretics. But

there are a fort of men that are even with them, and hate fome

good things which 'the Church of Rome tea~hes, becaL~re i11C who

teaches fo many errors, hath been the publifher, and IS the pra-

diccr of rhofe things. I confeiS the thing is alwayes unreafona,

ble, but fometimes it is invincible and innocent; and then may

ferve to abate the fury of all fuel! decretory Ientences, as con-

demne all the world but their own Difciplcs,

). There are fom. e opinions that have gone hand in lund with NmnG. 3,: ableffing1 and a prolperous profeffion , and the good fucccfs of

their defenders hath amufed many good people, becaufe they

thought they heard Gods voice where they faw Gods hand, and

therefore have ruihed upon Iiich opinions with great piety and as

grtat mifrakincr• For where they once had entertain'd a feare of

Gld,and app~ehenfion of his fo fenfible d~c1ara~ion, fucha feare

producc~ fcruple, and a fcrupulous confcicnce is alwayes to be

pityed, becaufc thouzh it is fe1dome wife, it is alwayes pious.And

!his very thing hath prevail>d fo farre upon the unde~andings

evenof wife men, that Bell.trmille makes it a note of the true

(hurrh. Which opinion when it prevailes is a ready way to

make,that infread of Martyrs all men Ihould prove hercticks o~ ~-

poftates in perfecutien ;for fince men in mifery arc very fufplC!-

ous;

!76

on" out of il:rong defires to finde out the caule , that, by reo moving ,it they m~y be relieved, they apprehend that to be it th:!t is firft prefcnted to their fears , and. then ifever.truth be af. , Bidcd, the Ihall alfo be defiroyed, I will fay nothing in defiance of t_his fancy, although all the experience in the world fayes it is falfc, andthat of all menChrifiians Ihould leafr believe it -to be true.to whom a perpemallcrofse is their certain expeCl:ation,(and the argument is like the, Moone, for which no, garment can be ht, It akers according to the fucce[s of humane affairS', and in one aae will ferve a Papifr, and in another a Prorefcant) yet when fu~h

. an opinion does prevaile upon timerous per~ons, the malignity of their error (If any be confcquent to this fancie , and tao

ken.up upon the reputation of a profperons hercfie) is not to be confide red Gmply and nakedly; but abatement is to be made in a juti: proportion to that feare , and to that apprc·

hcnfion, '

-'1- Education is fo great and fo invincible a prejudice, that he who rnaiiers rheinconveniencc of it, is more-to be commended dun he can.juflly be blam'd that complyes with it. For men doe not aiwaycs call them principles which arc the prime fountaioes of n~afoll, from whence fueh confequcnts naturally flow, as arc to gui.de the achons auddifcourfes of men; but they are principies whichthey arc hriltaught, which they fuckt in nextto [heir milke, and by a proportion to thofe firfl: principlesrheyuii« ally take their eilimatc of propolitions. For whatfoevcr is taught to them at tidl: they believe infinitely,' for they know nothing to th,c contrary, they have had no other mailers, whofe theoremes Hught abate the Ilrength of their nrfl: pcrfwafions.ind it is a great advantage in rhofe ('afes to get pofscflion , and beforetheirfirll principles can be diflodg'd, they are made habitual! and com plexionall, it is in their nature then to believe them, and this is helred forward very much by the advantage of love and veneration \\'hi<.1, we h,;IVC ro t~ld1:-f[ ,Pll'<.~'its of our perflVauons.And we .fcc it in the ()rJc~s of l\c,-;ul1rsi;1 tne Church of Rome, That opinio:1 which was th.: 1J1'inlOl1 of their Patron or Founder, .or of It'!11c eminent Pcrfor:1gc of the Infiitucc, is cnou~h to,'cngagc aU I'll' (}:Jc'rr,) be ofr.ut op,i!1ion;' .a.id it ~rtqqge, that all. the Donn.iicans !h,u:cl be c-f 0.1C opiri_on in,th~ill1awrof p!cd,~

, 't.:rmialtiOO

§. II.

§. II.

Tht Li6trlJ of Prophefjing.

termination and immaculateconception, and all the Francifcans of the quite contrary, as if their undcrflandinrs were form'd in a different mold,a~d fu~nii?ed with various principles by their ve. ry rule. Now this prejudice works by many principles, but how ~rollgly they doe p0!Sefs the underftanding is vifible in that great In(l;ance of the affethon and perfect perfwafion the weaker fort of people have to that which they call the Religion ofrheirf'ore,

fathers. You may as well charm a [eave~ afleep with the noife of a ptimd l'dli fir bells, as make any pretence of realon againll that Relizion which q"~ IIIagllJ 6[~ld men have intayl'd upon their heirs male fo many generations Jrnf!" ''''pia: till they can prefcribe, And the Apoflle; found this to be moll: jNnt,qItOr4"'q;

in th n, diffi I hev rnet wi es .. """,,, 1111<1'a:

true ~n t ecxrremeit I en ty t ey met Wlt~, to concert againft {me,"" ad >._

the ntes of MOfel, and the long Iuperfiition of the Gentiles 1;"7JtI1>, fed 4d which they therefore thought fit to be retain'd , becaufe they had fh~i!it"dimm done fo formerly, PergenreJ non qllo eltl1dum eft, fed quo itur, and v~vlmu:' Sell. all t~e bl~ffings ofth!s life ,which God gave them, they had in ~:t~~~~~r. (OnJunCl:lO~ With th,elr Rehgjo~, and therefore they belccved it

.was for their Religion, and this perfwafion was bound faft in

them with ribs of iron, the Apofiles were forc'd to unloofe the

whole conjuncture of parts & principles in their underfiandings,

before they could make t~em malleabl~and receptive of any im-

~re~es. ~ut the obfervation and experience of all wife men can

Ju~rfie this truth, All that I Ihall fay to the prefent purpofe is

this, that confideration is to be had to the weaknefs of peri~ns

when they are prevail'd upon by fo innocent a prejudice, and

when there cannot be arguments ftrong enough to over-rnafccr

an habituall perfwafion bred with a man, nouriflrd up with him,

that alwayes eat at his table, and lay in his bofome, he is not eafi-

Iy to be called Heretique, for ifhe keeps the foundation offaith,

other articles arc not fo cleerly demonfirated on either fide, but

that ~ ma~ may innocently ,be abufe,d to th~ contrary. And there-

f~re III this cafe to handle him charitably, IS but to doe him ju-

1bce: And when an opinion in minorlbu« articuli!, is enrertain'd

U~on the title and ftock of education, it may be the better per-

mItted to him Jince upon no better ftock nor fironger arguments,

!?toft men entertain their whole Religion, even Chrifiianity It

It fe,

S· There are forne perfons of a differing perfwafion,who there- Nlimf. 5.

Z fore

The Liberty (jfTrophefying.

fore arc the rather to be tolerated, becaufe the indirect praCl:ices and impofiures of their adverfaries have confirmed them, that thofe opinions which they difavow, are not from God, as being upheld by means not of Gods appoi~tment: For it is ~o lin reafonable difcourfe to fay, that God will not be ferved With a lye, for he does not need one, and he hath means enough to fupport all thofe truths which he hath commanded,and hath fupplyed eve. ry honeft caufe wit~ enough for its maintenan~e, an~ t~ contefi :lrrainft its adverfanes. And (but that they which ufc indired arts ~Il not be willing to lofe any of their unjuft advantages, nor yet be charitable to thofe perfons, whom either to gain or to undoe, they leave nothing unattempted) the Church of Rome hath much reafon not to be fo decretory in her fentences againft perfons of a differing perfwafion, for if their cattle were entirely the caufe of God, they have given wife people reafon to fufpea: it, becaule fome of them have gone to the Devill to defend it. And if it be remembrcd what tragedies were fiirred up againft Luther, for fayiog, the Devil! had t::tuEht him an argument againft the MJf" it will be of as great advantage againft them. that they goe to the Devill for many arguments to fupport not onely the Mafs, but the other diftinguiibing Articles of their Church: I inflance in the notorious forging of Miracles, and framing of falfe and ridiculous Legends. For the former I need no other infiances then what hapned in the great conteilation about the immaculate conception, when there were Miracles brought on both fides to prove the contradictory parts; and though it be more then pro. bable tim both fides play'd the jugglers, yet the Dominicans had the ill luck to be difcovered, and the aCl:o!'s burn'd at Berne. But this difcovery hapned by providence; for the Dominican opinion hath more degrees of probability then the Francifcan , is clecrly more confonant both to Scripture and all antiquity, and this part of it is acknowledged by the greatdl: Patrons rhemfelves, as Salmeron, Pof" and Wadding, yet becaufe they played the knaves in a jufl: queil:ion,and ufed falfe arts to maintain a true propofirion, God Almighty to /hew that he will not be fe~ved by a lye, was pleafed rather to difcover the impoflure in the rtght opinion then in the falfe; fince nothing is more difhonourablew God, then ~o olk. a fin in fa,rmce to him, and nothing more m-

. . - congru:

§. II,

§. II.

The Liberty of TropbeJJing.

--------

congruous in the nature of the thing,then that truth and falfhood Ihould fupport each other, or that true doctrinc 1110uld live at the cha~g~s of ~ lye. And he that confiders the arguments for each oprruon will eafily conclude, that if God would not have truth confirmed ~Y a lye, much lelfe would he himfclf attef] a lye With a true miracle. And by this ground it will eafily follow that t~e Francifcan party, although they had better luck then th~ Dominicans, yet had not. more honelly, becaufe their caufe was worfe, and therefore their arguments no whit the better. And although the argu~ent drawn from miracles is good to melt a holy .do~nne, which by Its own worth will fupport it felfe.after way IS ~ little m~de by miracles, yet of it felfe and by its owne r:p~tatlOn I~ wiIl not fupp~rt any fabrick; for inllead of proV1I1" a doctrine to be true, It makes that the miracles themfe1ves are {u(petl:ed to be illufions, if they be pretended in behalfe of a doCl:rine, which we 0ink we have reafon to account falfe. And therefore the Jews did not beleeve Chrifl:s doctrine for his Mi. rade~, bu~ dis-bel.eeved the t~uth of his Miracles, becaufe they did not hk~ ~l1S doctrine, And If the holinelfe of his dodrine, and the. SP1f1~ of God by infpirations and infufions, and by that whlCh. S~I~t Peter caIl~ aforenvord of prophecy, had not attefbed the Divinity both of hIS Perfon and his Office, we fhonld have wanted many degrees of confidence which 1I0W we have upon the truth of Chdllian Religion. Bu~ now fince we are fore-told by

this {ttrer. wo~d of prophecy, th~t IS, the predidion of J efus Chrifl:, Vid.B3ron.vf. that Antichrif] iliould come III all wonders, and figns, and lying r;.~8.D. ~ z , . ~Ilracles, and that the Church faw much of that already verified I hiloflrae, 1.4. In Simon Magus, Apollonim Tjanms, and Manetho and divers fT~~8t·dcom. * Her ti .. h a: ' .1. C rene

. C lques, It IS now come to t at pam?, that the argument in p.,'),.

IC5 . be!~ advantage proves nothing [0 much as that the dotl:rine • Staplercn. which It pretends to prove, is to be fufpetCed becaufe it was prompt. ~orlJ.· foretold that falfe doctrine Ihould be obtruded 'under filch pre- ~~~. ",Illva, p. tences. But then when not onely true miracles are an infufficient

brgument to p.rovc a truth fince the ettablifhmenr of Chriltianiry,

tht that tl~e ~Iracles themfelves are falfe and Ipurious, it makes

b at doCl:nne III whofe defence they come, jufl:ly to be ftj(pected,

ilicaufe they are a dC1!'0nfl:ration that the interefled perfons ufe

.mc~ns.lcave nothing unattempted to prove their propofiri-

Z z ons,

179

180

The Li/Jerty of Prophejjing.

ons ; but fince they fo faile as t<? b~in& not~ing ,f;om God, . butj fomcthmg from the Devill for Its )u(hftcatlOn, It S ,a great {If!~e that the doctrine is falfe, becaufe we know the Devill, ~nlelf It be again!l: his will, does nothing to prove a true propofiC1o~ that makes againfl: him. And now then thofe perf ons who Will en. dure no man of another opin~on, m,ight ~oe well to remember how by their exorcifmcs, their DevIls, tricks at Loivdo», and the other tide pretending to cure m~d,fol~es and perfons bewitched, and the many difcoveries of their Jughng,thcy have given 10 much reafon to their adverfaries to fuf pea their ~oCl:nnt, that either they mull not be ready ~o condemne th~lr ~erfon~ who are made furpicious by their I~dlrect proceeding III and1:ltI~n 0: that which they value fo high as to call ~helr RtltglOn, 01 c_lrc they muf condemne themfelves for making the fcandall adive

and effeduall, ,

NHmf.4. As for falfe Legends, it will be of the, fame confideration, be.

caufe they are f~lfe Tdlimonies of Miracles th~t were never done, which difTers onely from the o,ther as a lye I~ words from a lye in ac1:iol1, bur of this we have wimefs enough In that decree of Pope Leo X. femon the eleventh, of the lafr, Lateran Co~~ell. where he cxcornrnuairntes all the forgers and inventors of vifions and faife Miracles, which is a teHimony that it was then ~ praC1:ice (0 pu-licke as to need a La IV for Its fuppre1l!01l ; and If any man {hall doubt whether it were fo or nor.Icc hun fee the Celltum. grm'arnjwl of the Princes of ge~many wher~ it is high~y CO~l. phin'd of, But the extreme Ilupidity and, fcttilhnefs ot the mventers of lyillO' Ilorics IS (0 are~,t, as to give occafion to forne

• • _'lI" perfons to lU{jp~ct the truth of all Cllll,rch " flory,wicnefs the Le-

70 '",""I «P'I • .' '1 f h C

iJi;:I. ~",11";>o zend of Lombard] .' ofche author of which the Eifhop 0 t e a-

/4,." '!1, 7<i "1- ~ades gives this Tcftimony, In illo rnim lib;'o mirrlc~lomm mO,nJlril (;Hsr.>1 .. plll-t)ust jdpim quam -uera mirtlwlrt legM. Henc homo {t:r'lpjit (am 0114, ~7i1d.l% plumbej cordi«, animi certe pamm [eoeri e- prudentif. But I need l!it;tt:;Ju~~.mr, not defcend [0 low, for Saint gregory and V. Bede thernfelves re-

, 1 ported miracles for the authority of which they only had the re-

ih'd:~,", Goe, oort of the com~on people, and it is not certaine that S.Hierome

.0 ,cop,. " fr ' ' f Sid S - J. h and the

"1 had 10 much in his ones 0 .P.IU an • ~nt Oi'l), , ,

Canus ,h,". Fallns and the Saryrs which appear'd to them, and defir d their

Prayers, But I Ihall onely by way of eminency, note what SIC

- ' Th~tIMI

§.If.

§. II.

181

':fhomM More fay-es in his Epi11le to Ruthal the Kings Secretary before the Dialogue of Lucian [Phi!opfeude.r ] that therefore he undertook the tranflation of that dial0j:\ue,tofree the world from afupcrfhrion rhat crept in under the race and title of Religion. For fuch Iyes (Iaycs he) are tranfinirred to us with fuch authority that a certaine impofror had perfwaded S. Alt/fin, that the very

fable which Lucian fcoffes.makes fport withall in that *Dialogue • Viz, ne duo: was a reall flory, and acted in his owne dayes. The Epifrk is b" fJ}{~ .n ,.:. worth the reading to this purpofe , but he fayes this abule te ro dccedenie , grew to fitch a heighr, that Icarce :my life of any Saint or Martyr altere tim vI1_.

, I'd b ," II fl d I'd d r. lam rt eun e

IS ern y relate . 'lit IS ill 0 yes an ymg won ers, an rome ""jt "o/'''nll di:

perfons thought they Iervcd God ifthcy did honour to God's 'cr; q"~m in Saints by inventing lome prodigious Ilory, or miracle: for their aim nom;Il,bHI reputation. So that now it is no wonder if the moll: pious men ';~ddet LIt",anlU.

b I, d h n.r.: r: tr, e ( 14111 41-

are apt to e revc, an t c greaten hiltorians are eaue enough to U".,enllll/l(}il-

report fitch fiorics,which [erving to a good end.are alfo conllgned Imli Co"n4tl,by the report of perf 0115, orherwife pious and prudent enough. ;>1 Almol~t'ln I will not infra nee in VinCfH(iU! his /pecu/llm, T.tronenjis, ThomtU bsnc Dla 0;;. Cantip.:ttalluJ' John Horo!l, Vit£ Petrum, nor the revelations of Vid,P,l1xot,de Sain,t 'Brita though confirmed by two, Popes, Martin V. and facl'afi~d~~, Bon,:face IX. even the befl: and moll: deliberate amongil: them, p~rL laO! . LipFoman, Surius, LipjiUf Bzovi!U, and Baronimare fo full offa, a c • bles that they caufe great difreputation to the other Mcnuments

and records of antiquity, and yet doe no advantage to the caufe

Under which they ferve and take pay. They doe no good and

much hurt; but yet accidentally they may procure this advantage

to charity, fince they doc none to faith; that fince they have 10

abufed the credit of' Ilory that our confidences want much of

that fupport we Ihould receive from her records of antiquity, ret

the men that difleut and are fcandaliz'd by fitch proceedings

fhould be exculed if they Ihould chance to be afraid of truth

!hat hath put on garments of impolture : and fince much violence

-IS done to the trtlth (:5- certainty of their judging, let none be done

~o their libmy of judging: fince they cannot meet a right guide,

let them have a charitable judge. And tinct it is one 1iery great

argument againfl Simon 0J,fagm and againfi 0J,fnhomn that we

~a~ prove their miracles to be impofhrres,rt IS much to be pittied

if tunorous and fufpitious perfons {hall invincibly and honeil;ly

z j Je{l~

j i i

- -------

7!Je Libert) of Trophejjing.

NumG'7'

Joh.7 ~

Idl~ apprehend a truth which they fee conveyed by fuch a tefllmo, ny which we all ufe as an argument to reprove the Mahumctan

fiiperilition. , . ..

c. Here alfo comes in all the weaknefles and tnflmg prejudices which operate not by their own Ilrength, but by advantage taken from the weakneife of fome underIl:andmgs. Some m,en by a Proverb or a common faying are determin'd to the beliefe of a propofition, for which they have n~ argument better then fuch a Proverbiall fentence. And when divers of the common People in Jerufalem were ready to yeild their underll:andin~s to the be. liefe of the Mcffias,they were turn'd c1eerly from their a~prehen. fions by that prover~, look!! and fCe, does tliOJ g90d thing come from galilee? And t?IS, when Chrift comes, no ma« ~oWeJ [:0/11 Whence he is' but this man was knowne of what parents.of'what City. And (hus the wesknefle ofrheir undcrflanding was abufed, and that made the arsurnent too hard for them; And the whole feventh Cha pter of Sfint 'Johns Gofpell is a pel'petu,all infhnce of the efficacy offuch trifling l'rejudices, and the vanity and weaknefle of popular underll:andmgs. Some who~c ages h:ve beene abufcd by a definition, which being once received, as !fioll commonly they are upon {jjg~t grounds, the~ al:e taken for ccrtlJl~' ryes in any fcience refpedively, and for pnnC1~les, and up,on t.l:elf reputation men ufe to frame conc.luiions, which mull: bdalfi: or unccrtaine according as the definitions are. And he that hath obferv'd anything of the weaknefles of men.and the fucceffions, ~f eroundlefle doctrines from age to age, and how feldome defimtt. ~ns which are put into fyfl:emes, or that derive from the Fa· thcrs, or approved among Shool-rnen are, examined by perfons of the fame interefls, will beare me wltnefle,how many and great inconveniences prelli: hard upon the perfwafions of men, who are a bufcd and yet never confider who hurt them. Others, and they very many, are lead by authority or examples of Princes, & great perfoaages, 1{_ymqulJ credit e.': Principibu« ? Some by the repuntion of gne learned man are carryed into any perfwafion what. foever. And in the middle and latter azes of the Church, this was the more corsiderable, becaufe the infinite ignorance ofrhd Clerks, and the men of the long robe gave them over to ~e lea by thofc few goides which were mark'd to them by an enllncnc~

. fliL1CII

§.1I.

...

§. II.

Th~ Liberty ~f Tropbifjing.

much more then their ordinary: which alfo did the more arnufe the~, becaufe moll: commonly they were fit for nothing but to admire what they underfl:ood not . their Jearnins then was in {orne skill in the ~all:er of the Sent~nce3J in ~q~inM or ScoIUJ whom they admlr~ next to the moll intelligent order of Angels; hence came oprnrons that made Scas & divifion of names Thomifl:s, StOtifrs, Alberritts, Nominalls, Realls, and I know no; what monflers .of~ames; and whole families of the fame opinion, t?e whole m~lt~te of an Order being ingag'd to believe according to the opmion of fome leading man of the fame Order a5iffuc~ an opin.io_n wereimpofed upon them in vitute .r:m[f~ ,hedtt~tld!. But thl: mconvemence IS g,r~ate~ when the principle of the mlfl:ake runs hIgher, when the opuuon rs deriv'd from a Pri, mitive man and a Saint, for then it often happens that what at firfr was but a plain innocent Ieduction, comes to be made fzcred by the veneration which is confequenr to the perfon for havina lired long agone; and then, bccaufe the perf on is alfo Iinre ca~ noniz'd, the error is ~Imofl: ~nade eter~all, and the cure defpe, rate. Thefe and the like prejudices which arc as various as the miferies of humanity or the variety of humane underlhndinas are not abfolute excufes, unlelre to fome perfons, but truly if th~y be to any, they are exemptions to all, from being prefied with too peremptory a fentence againlt them, efpecially if we confider what leave is given to all men by the church of Rome to follow anyone probable Doctor in an opinion which is contcll:ed againl! by many more. And as for the Dodors of the other fide, they being deftitute of any pretences to an infallible medium to determine qllefl:ions, mull of neceffity allow the fame liberty to In: people.to be as prudent as they can in the choice of a fallible gtllde; and when they have chofen,if they doe follow him into error,the matter is not fo inexpiable for being deceiv'd in uGng [he b~Q guides we had,which guides becaufe themfelves were abufed, did alfo again(l: their wills deceive me. So that this prejudice may ~e cafier abufe us, becaufe it is almoll: like a duty to follow the dltlates of a probable Docter, or if it be over.acted or accidentally palre into an inconvenience, it is therefore to be excufed becaufe the principle was not ill, unleife we judge by our event, nOt by the antecedent probability. Of filCh men as thefe it was

fald

ANd therefore as there are fo many innocent caufes of Err Of, as there are weakndles within,and harmlefle and unavoydable prejudices from without, [0 if ever erro~r be procured by 1

vice it hath no excufe, but becomes fitch a crime, of fo much rnalignity, as to have influence upon the ~ff~Cl: and confequent, and by communication makes it become criminall. The Apofrles noted two Iuch caufes:Covetollfnefl & Ambition,the former in them of the Circumdllon, and the latter in 'Diotrephes and Sims» M.'I-

gUJ' and there were forne that were '"}'I-"'" h"'wl.,,~ .. '/'''' they were of the long robe too, but they were th.e lhe.Di[cip!cs, upon whoCe Confcienccs [orne falfe Apo{l:les had 1I1~ue.nce by a~i vantage of their wantonnefs. and thus the three principles of a finne become a 110 the principles of here fie, the ~uft ofthcflci1} thelull: of the eye, and the pride of life. AndmpurfiIa~ce ~ thefe arts the Devil! hath not wanted fud! to fet aworkc mee, -

~~""""""""""""""""""""""""lIdllarllel$lj~"II"""""""""""" ~ .J~

Conrr.Fund, C,4·

Orar.s r.

Ilml

Tht Libert) of Pr6pheJjing. S. II:

-_ .. ~-_-~,,- -_----- _---"""""'---

faid by Saint Auf/in, C<eteram tm-bam non inteHigendi vivaQt4l,{eel creded; JimpljdliU tlttijJlmam [ddt. And Gregor) N,,:z:,ianun. ":~"I'I1)f.A'!u~ TO' 1.1.' .. 70 ·"bol. ... "~V. The common fort of people are fafe in their not inquiring by their owne indullry, and in the urn. plicity of their under!l:anding relying upon the belt,guides theycan

getilut this is of fuch a nature in which as we may inculpab!y be deceived, fo we may turne it into a vice or a defigne, and then the conCequent errors will alter the property, and become here. fies. There are fome men that have mens perfons in admiration bccaufe of advantage, and [orne that have itching eares, and heap up teachers to themfelvcs. In rhefe and the like cafes the authority of a perfon, and the prejudices of a great reo putation is not the excufe but the fault : And a finnc is fo farre from ex(uung an Errour , that Errour becomes a finne by reafon of it's relation to that finne as to it's parent and prin-

ciple.

SECT. XII.

Of the inlt{JCCJll'Y of Errour in opinion in a pjollJ per{on.

S.U. Tbt Li6lrtJ of Pr,phejjjn~ 185

- __ ---- -----------------------

diaries in all ages of the church. The Bilbops were alwayes ho-

nourable, and ~o£l: commonly had great revenues, and a Bilbo. prick would fatisfie the two defians of Covetoufneff'e and Am bition, and this hath been the golden apple very often comended fo~. an~ very ofte~ the caufe ,of great fires in the Church. The6uli.J q~liI rc)tfius ab.Epifco~dtu Hlfyo[.'lmitanu. tllr!Jare cr.epitEcciefiam, [aid EgeJippm. ill EUJebillJ. Tmullian turn'd Montanif] in dif. content ~or miffing th~ Biihoprick of (:1I·tlMge after Agrippimu, and fo did Mon/amu hlmfdfe for the fame difcontenr, faith 1'{j"phcrHJ. 7'tiVlltHS would have been Bifhop of Rom! 'Denatm of C~rth4g(, Arrlt« of Alexandria, ry£eri/lS of Seba/1M,' but they all mllfed,andthereforeal!ofrhem vexed Chrittendome. And this was fo cO.mmon ~ thing, that oftentimes, the thrcatning the C~urch With a fchifine, or a herefie, was a ddizn [Q get a Buhoprick: And. Socrates rep()~s of .After'II!, that he did frequent t~eConvent(cle~ of the Arna?s i ~m BpijeopatfJn1',Lqucm am- 6lebat. ~n~ fetting afide the infirmities of men, and their innocent preJ~\hces{ Epfph.miUJ ~akes prid~ to be the onely caufe of herefie_s. ~bPI~ ~ ~Xf'I:rI'.'Pnde and Prejudice caure them all, the onecnmlflllly,~heotherinnocently. And indeed S. Paul does almof] make pride the onely caufe of herefies, his words cannot be e,xpounded,Ullldfeit be at leaf] the principall, '" v, ~n(jJ)J .. :rM,M', and can font! not to {ounllVordJ. and the do[h-ine tbst i, ac<'ml.ing to god'in;Jfe;r{IJ~",'}"" }I.I1~V ~7lJ"':'i"lV~"cLMd.vo';;v mG' ("I(,m, ~~')pfkt:Aa{, ~~ ,"v "v.7"" ~e.'O;'~"'h {3l1"'<T~»l-'j"", ","OYOIII.< ITO~llfotj.

The 1ilm~eis t~is, If ever an. Qpin.ion be begun with pride , or 7 ,

~anag'd With Impiety, or ends in a crime; the man turns Here- hrtmG._, nque • but let the error be never (0 grear , fo it be not 3"ainfl: an

Article of Creed, ifit be fimple anl'hath no confederatfon with

the perfonall iniquity of the man, the opinion is as innocent as

the pcrfon,though perhaps as fa1fe as he is ignorant ,and therefore

(hall burne though he himfelfe efcspe, But in thefe cafes and ma-

ny more, (for the ca~fes of deception increafe by all accidents,

and weakncfles, and illulions) no man can give certaine judge,

menr upon_the perfons of men in particular, unldIc the matte; of

facbnd ~nrnc be accident and notorious. The man cannot by

humane joogelJ]ent be concluded a heretique, unleff'e his opinion

be an open receffion from plaine demonfl:rative divine authority

A a whkb

186

The Liberty. ~f 'Frqphejjing'

Nllmv·3·

(which mBa needs be notorious.vohmtaryjvindble and criminal), or that there be a palpable [erving of an end accidentall and ~X~ trinfecall to the opinion.

But this latter is very hard to be difcerned, becaufe thofe aed. dentalland adherent crimes which makes the man a heretique. in cmeiHons not fimply fundamentall or of neceflary praCtice are ~ccions fo internall and fpirituall, that cognizance can but fl dome be taken of them. And therefore (to inflance) though the opinion of Purgatory be falfe, yet to beleeve it cannot be herdic. if:! man be abufed into the beliefe of it invincibly,' becaufe it is not a Doctrine either fundamentally falfe or practically impious, it-neither proceeds from the will, nor hath any immediate or direCl: influence upon choice and manners. And as for thofe other ends of upholding that opinion which poffibly its Patrons may have, as for the reputation of their Churches infallibility, forthe advantage <Sf Dergcs, Requierns,Maifes, Monthly minds.Anniverfaries, and other offices for the dead. which llfually are very profitable.rich and eafie, thefe things may poffibly have fole influences upon their underflanding, but whether they have or no God only knowes, If the propoficion and article were true, thefe ends might jull:Jy be fubordinate and eonfillent with a true propofiti, on. And [here are fome truths that are alfo profitable.as the necefliry of maintenance to the Clergy, the Doctrine of rellitu, cion, giving Almes, lending freely, remitting debts in cafes of !:reat neccflity: and it would be but an ill argument that the preachers of thefe doctrines fpeakc falfe, becaufe poffibly in there articles they may ferve their owne ends. For although 'De. metrii« and the Crafts.men were without excufe for refilling the Preaching of S. <Paul, beraufe it was notorious they refifr. cd the truth upon ground of profit and perfonall emoluments, and the -rnatter was confe£fed by ehemfelve«, yet If the Clergie fhould maintaine their jufi rites and Revenues which by pious dedications and donatives were long fmce afcertained upon them, is it to be prefiuned in order of Lsw and charity, that this end is in the men fubordinare to truth, bccaufe it is fo in the thing it felfe, and that therefore no judge. mcnt in prejudice of tht:fe nuilis taa.lD¢-made ti-gm that obftr~

vlOtiol'l? .

i ,:

I··,

Tilt Li~ert.J of 'PropheJjl"g. 1&7

__ --------- .---~------------

But if a/Jlhlde we are afcertain'd of ehe truth or fallhood of N G

~ propofition refpedively , ye~ [h~ judgement of the per[onall um. 4· ends of the men, cannot ordmanly be certaine and judicial!

be(~ufe moll: commonly the aCl:s are private, and the purpo~

fes intemall, and temporall ends may fornetimes conff] with

tl1_lth~ and whether. the purpofes of the men make thefe ends

p~lnClpall or fubordlllate,no man can judgejand be they how they

w~J1, yet they doe not alwayes prove that when they are conjund:

w~th e~ror. ~hat the error was caufed by thefe purpofes and cri-

nunalJ mrennons,

But in quellions praCl:icall, the doCl:rine it felfe and the perf on N {;

rO,o,may with mo~e cafe be reproved,becaufe matter offaCl: bein" 11m. 5·

evident, a,nd nothing being fo certaine as the experiments of hu~ l1Iane,alfalr~, a?d thefe being the i~mcdiate confequents of fuch doCl:rlllcs,are wlth/ome morecertaintyof obfervation redareued

then the fpeculattve;whofe judgementis of'it felfmon-: difuculr'

more remote from matter and humane obfervation and With Idfecuriofity and explicitencire declared in Scripture' as beins of

le«'e confequence and concernment in order tv Gods and M~n's

great end. .In other things which end in notion and inelfcCl:ive contemplatIOn. where neither the doctrine is malicious nor rhe

perfJn apparently criminall, heis to be left to the j;dgement

of God! a?d as there IS no certamry of humane judicature in this

cafe, fo ~t IS to no' I:urp~fe it Ihould be judged. For if the perfon

may be l~nocent WIth hIS Error, and ~here is no rule whereby he

ran cert~llIly be pronounced, that he IS adually criminall . (as it

happe,ns III matters Ipcculative.) Since the end of the Com:nand.

meat IS 1()I'e out of a pure ~~"ft!ence. a~ f,,;th unfained; and the Commandment may obtaine Its end 111 a conftftence with this

fi,?ple fpeculative Errour, Why (hould men trouble them[eJYes

w~th fitch o~inions, fo a~ ~o diflurbe . the publicke. charity or the

pnvate confidence? Opinions and perfons are jufl: [0 to be jud-

~ed as other matters and perfons criminalJ. For no man can

Judge any .thinE; dfe: it mufi: be a crime, and it mufi: be open, fo

as to ta~~ cogl1lz:llIce, and make true humane judgement of it.

And tlus IS all I am to fay concerning the caufes of herefies and

of the difl:ingui!hing rules for guiding of our judgmenr» towards

others. ,."

Aaz

As

'lh( Libn'l) of TrDphefying.

As for guiding our judgements and the rue of ?ur reafon in jlJdgina for our felves, all that is to be faid is reducible to this one prop~fition. Since Crf?rS are then m.ade (inncs ~'ihen they are contrary to charity or lflcoF.0fient with a good life and th.c honour of God, that judgement IS the crucit,.or at l~a!1: that OpInion moll innocent that I .befi promotes the. reputatl?n of ~ods Glory,and 2. is the bdl: inltrument of holy life ". For In qudhons and interpretations of difpute, thefc two ana~ogl~s are th~ ~ell: to make propofitions,& conjectures and determinations. DI}lgcnce and care in obtainina the beG: guides, and the moll convement ar. fifl:anm, prayer,and modefty of fpirit, fimplicity of purpofes an~ intentions.tumility and aptndle to learn, & a peaceable dl(pOutl. on, are therefore neceflary to fil:ding out truths, ~ecall(e ther are parts of good life, without which our truths WIll doe. us little advantage, and our errours can have no ex.cure, but with there difpofirions as he is f~r~ to find. outal! that isncceflary, fo what truth he inculpably mifles.of, he IS Cure IS therefore not necelfary. became he could not finde it when he did his bell and. his mo[l Innocent endeavours .. And [his 1 fay to fecure th~ perfons , be{~l1[e no rule can antecedently fecure the propofition in marters difputablc. For even in the pr~portions and explications of this rule there is infinite variety of difputcs : And when the difpute is concerning free will, one partie dcnycs it be:aufe he be. keyes it-magnifies the grace ofGod,[ha~1t workcs irrefiilably , the other affirmes becaufe he beleeves It engages LlS upon greater care and piety ~f our endeavours. The one opinion thinks God rea pes the glory of our g.ood aCti.ons, the ()~her thinks_it charges our bad ad:ions u~on 111m. So in th~ qu.eC;JOn of ment, one part choofes his a{fertJon becaufe he thinks It mcourages 15 to doe good works" the other bcleeves it .m.akes us pr~ud, and therefore he reje&s it. The fir~ .. beleeves re mer.cafes plcty, ~he fecond beleeves it incrcafes tplfltuall. prefumption a~d v~nlty. The ficll: thinks it maznifiesGod's juO:tl:e, the other dunks It derogates from his mer0-. Now then, fince neither this norany ground- can fccure a man from poilibility ofmifiaking, we were infinitc!y rniferable jf it would not fecure . us from p'ur.llhment, fo long as we willingly confent not to a cnme, and doe our beft endeavour to avoid an wour. Ondy by the way, let me obferve,

that

.. i ·1

The Libert.J of l'yophe./jing.

that finer there are [ucb great differences of apprehenfion concerning rheconfequcnts of an art,ide', . n? man is to'?1t 'har~ed with the odious confequenccs of his Op111l0n. Indeed hl~ dodrine is. but the pcrfon is not, ifhe underllands not filch things to be c~nf~quent to his Doctrine ; for if he did, and then :tvo:,'s them, they are his direct opini?ns, & h~ fl:and~ as chargeable WIth them as with his firfi propofirionsjbutif he dif.avowes them, he \~0L11~ certainlj' rather quit his opinion then avow fuch ~rrours or unpt«ie;, which are pretended to be coufequent to It, b~callfe e\'ery man knows that can be no truth, from whence falfhood na~l!raIly' and immediately does derive, and he therefore beleeves hIS firlt propofition, becaule he beleeves .it innocent of fuch errors as are.

charg'd upon it direClty. or confeq~ently.. . .

So that now, fince no error neither for Its felfc nor its confe. N,,~. 7. ~uellts is to be charg'd as criminall upon J. pious perfon, fince no

fmple errour is a fm, nor does condemne us before the throne of

God, fince he is fo pittifull to our crimes, rhat he pardons many'

Utoto & mttgro, ill all: i!lakes ab~tement for the vlol~nce or tempratien; and tllc[urpnzaU and invafion of our faculties, and

therefore much leife will demandof'us an account for our weak-

ndks . and fince the ftrongdl: underfianding cannot pretend to

file!! a~ immunity and exemption. from the c~ndi~ion of.rsen, as

nono be deceived and confdf~ Its weaknefle , It rCH11111CS we

inquire w~ deportment is to beufedtowards perfons ofa dif"

fCring· perfwa!ion. when we arc (1 doe no~ fay doubtfull .o~ a propofidon. but) convinc'd that he that differs from us IS <?

Errour, for this was the fid\: intention, and the lill end of this

di[courle,

SECT. XIII.

Of the deportment to he uied tQwardJ perfom difogrecinl.. and tl)e

rellfom ~hJ they are not to be ptmiJbed Wit/; death, &c.

FOralthough every man may be deceived, yet LOme are right Ntlmf" I. and, may know it too, for every man that may erre, does

not therefore certainly trre, and ifhe errcs becaufe he recedes

from his rule~then if he followes it he may doe right" and if ever.

Aa~ wy

The LihertJ of Pr-ophefj;"g.

any man upon juJ1: grounds did ch:mgehis 0 pinion,then he was in the right and was fure of it too, ~Ad although confidence is milli. ken for a jull: pcrfwafion many tlmes,yet fome men are confidenr, and have reafon fo to be. Now when this happens.the quellion ii what deportment they are to ufe towards perf OIlS that difagree from them, and by confequ-nce are in error.

I. Then no Chriltian is tv be put to death, difmembred, or otherwife diretl:ly perfccured for his opinion, which does nor teach impiety or blaiphcmy. Ifit plainly and apparently brings in a crime, and himfelfc does aa: it or incourage it, then the nutter of faC1: is punifhabIe according to its proportion or rna. lignity ; ~s ifhe pre~che.s tr~afon ?r fedition, hi" opinion is no~ his excule, becaufe it brings in a crime.and a man IS never the]dIe

. traitor, becaufe-he beleevcs it lawful to commit treafon;& a man is a murtherer if he kills his brother unjuJ1:ly, although he thulk' he does God good fervice in it. Matters of faa: are equally jU" dicable whether the principle of them be from within or frOII! without: And if a man could pretend to innocence in being [I:ditious.blafpbemous, or perjur'd by perf wading hirnfelf it is lawfull,thcre were as great a gate opened to all iniquity, as will en. tertaine all the pretences, the defigncs, the impofiures, and dir. guiles of the world. And therefore God hath taken order that all rules concerning matters of fad: and. good life thall be f() dcerely explicated, that without the crime of the man" he cannot be ignorant of all his practicall duty. And therefore the A~o. files and primitive Doctors made no fcmplc of condemnmg fuch perfons for hereticks, that did dogmatize a fU1I1e. He that teaches others to (mne, is wor[e then he that commits the crime, whether he be tempted by his owne intcrcfl, or incouraged by the others dodrine, It was as bad in 1Jaflides to teach it to be lawfull to renounce Faith and Religion, and take all manner of Oathes and Covenants in time of perfecurion, as ifhimfelfe had done fo; nay it is as much worfe, as the mifcheife is moreumverfall, or as a fountaine is greater then a drop of water t~~n f~om it. He that writes Treafon in a booke, or preaches Sedition ,m a Pulpit, andperfwades it to the people, is the greatell: .Tra!tor and incendiary, and hIS opinion there is the fountairc iOf! fumr, and therefore could-net beentertain'd in-his undet!hndlng-

I1pon

upon weakne1l1!, or !n,culpabl~ o~ innocent prejudice; he cannot ftem Scriptllr~ or divine re~elatlGn,~av(l. anl'prClool'ct! tocolo~r tbarCo fairely 3S to feduee eithen a WIfe or'anhoncll: man. If!1! felt· there and goes.ne.furrher, it isnoCicognoftibll!, and [o.fta-p4;'9 that way; but if it be publifhed and~. comes .i fly/t; ad' .l/.1uc.h.erwt1W (as Ter-tu~tlnJ phrafe is) then It becomes marree offaC"1:· inprinci ple and in per(wa(ion, and is jufl:fo. punifhable, as is the (rime that it perfivades : fuch were they of whom S; Paul com-

plaines, who brought in damnable dotb:in.es and: lufts. S. P MIls G,~/, 5· Vt;nam a6fcind.mtHr is juJ1: of them, take It III any fenfe of ngour andfeverity, fo it be proportionable to the cr_ime, or criminal! dolhine.Such were thofeofwhom God (pake III Dei«. r 3.lfany

Prophet tempts to idolatry, faying,let us ,goe after other GO?S,

helhall be flaine. But rhcfe doe not come into this queflion, Rut

the propofition is to be underflood concerning qudtions difputa-

ble in materia intei/eflu(Jt:, which alfo for all that law of killiug,

ftl(h falfe Prophets were permitted with impunity in the Syna-

gogue, as appeares beyond exception in the great divifions and

difputes betweene the Pharifees and the Sadduces, I deny not

but certaine and knowne idolatry or any other fsrt of pradi-

call impiety with its principiant doctrine may be punifhed cor-

porally, becaufe it is no other but matter of faCt, but no matter

of me ere opinion, no errors that of themfelves are not fins are to

be perfecuted or punifbed by death or corporall infliction" This

is now to be-peeved.

, ~. All theformer difcourfe is f~fficient argument hO.w~elGe it Numb. 3. sfor us in fuch matters to be deceived. So long as Chriilian Re-·

ligion was a Iimple profefllon of the articles of behefe, and a

hearty profecution of the rules of good life, the fewnefJe of the

artides and the clearaefle of rhc rule, was caufe of [he feldorne plevarica~on. But when divinitj» is iiveWd up to fo great a bo-

dy, when the Ieverall quclhons which the peevilhnefle and lVantonnelJe of liKteene ages have cornmenc'd, are concenrred

into one, and from all thele quefrions fomething is drawncinto

tl!eoody of 7:.' heoiDgie till iE hash afcended up to thegreatndfe Of. 3moll!1taiae, and the bnme of Divinitycolleded by A'lHinaJ,

flakes a volume as greaE as was that QfLi~'J mockd at in the

Ep;grilmme,

/!2.!lcm

The Lilttrt) of PYDphe[yiNf..

§.u;

I

I'

I

%{ucm mea -z:ix tatum bibliathmuapit. . .

It is impoffiblelor any mdufl:ry t~ confider fo many partxu, .lars ill the infinite number-s of qudtions as are ~ece£Jaryto be confider'd before we can with certainty determine any. And after all the confiderarions which we can have in a whole age, we are not fure not.t» 6e deceived. The obfcurity offome quellions, the nicety of femearticles, the intricacy of fomc revelati?ns, the varictv of humane underflandings, the windings of ~oglCk!, the tricksof adverfaries, the fiibtilty of Sophillers , the mgagcrncDt of educations, pcrfonall affcCl:ions, the portentous number of writers, the infinity of authorities, the vaO:ne!fc?f fome argumenrs, as f;onfilling in enumeration of many partl~u_!ars, the ,u~. certainty of others, the f,:veral! degr~es of p.robabJ!lty, ,t~e dlfti: culties of Scripture, the invalidity of probation of tradition, t~e oppofition of all exttrio~r ,lrgu~ents to each other, and their o ocn conrelhtion, the publicke VIOlence done to ,authors ~nd rec~rds, the private arts and fupplantings.the faHifYll1g~the indefatigable induftry of [orne men t~ a?ufe all uuderfhndings, and all pcrfivafions into thea' owne opnuons, thefe and thou[an~s more, even all the difficulty of things, and a," ~he we~kne!fC'S ot man?= all the arts of the Devill, have made It l~paffi()lc for any man m fo great variety of matter not to be deceived. No man rr~cend5 to it but the Pope, and no man is more deceived then he IS inthat

very particular. . ..

3. From hence proceeds a danger which IS c~nfequent .to this proceeding, for ifwe,who are fo apt to, be deceived, & fomfecure in our refolution of qudhons difputablc, Ihould perfeeu~

a dif-agrecing perfon, we are not furc we doe not fight agaJn , God, for if his propofirion be true and perfc~uted,. thel1~ bC(a~d all truth derives from God, this proceeding IS agauill: God, a therefore this is.not to be dor,c upon G,1m,dicl's ground, !eft per. ad venture we be found to fight agaidl: God,of which becaufc wf can have no Iecuriry (at teart) in this. cafe, we ha~e all the ~ult z-

a dou':>tful! or all uncertaine Confcicncc, For if the~e be n f h curiry ill the thins as I have hq.,rely proved, the Confelence In ~~(

b. h ~ll' • d if i b not douer-

ca ICs is as unccrtarne ~s t ~ ~lueHlon IS, an I ~t e .: but

full where it is nnccrtame, It IS becaufe the man IS not wife, d "S confident as iznorant, the fifO: without reafon, and the fe,onh

~ 0'· ~_

Nllmb·4·

The' Liberty of 'Prophejjing.

I~ithout excufe.And it is very difproportionable for a man to per.' freme another certainly, for a propoficion, that if he were wife, he would know is not certaine, at leal], the other perfon may innocently be unccrtaine of it. Ifhe be kill' J, he is certainly kill'd, but ifhe be call'd hereticke, it is not fo certaiae that he is an he., reticke, It were good therefore, tbt proceedings were accor-: dingta evidence) and the rivers not iive!l over the banks, nor a' certaine definitive fenreace of'dcirh pafsd UPQ:1 fuch perf.vafions which cannot ccrtai..Iy be deiin'd. Anr] this argumentIs offo much the more force', becaure we Ll' that the greatefl: perIrclltions that ever have bee,', were 'll"lir,{i: catch, even a!l:~idl:

Chri!l:ianiry it felfC',lnd it IVjS a predi,'l:ion of our bldkd Sa vi;)l1l',that perfecution lhou!d be the lot of true bcleevers :' and if We' compute the experience offtlfl'ering Chrillendorm-, lad t;}(, predidion.that truth lhould fiufer, with thGfc: few i,;[bEees cfEl~:(:ringherctieks, it is odds, but perfecution is 0:1 the w1'o:1:; tid!', and that it is errour and Iicrcfie, that i" cruell and tyrannicall, efpecially fince the truth of J efiis Chrifl, rnd of his Rdi;i,)!l are [0 rneeke, fo charitable, and fo merciful! : and we m"y in this cafe, exactly ufe the words of S. Paul, 'Bm ,« the", he th.u: w.u vornt 4f';,. the flefo , yerfemted him tiur )!'.r! lome aft<r the

lPii'i~; ,vw[o it is now: and fo it ever will be till Chrift, fecor.d NI,mi. 'i. '

~~ ..

'. ~. Whoever perfccures a difagreeing perfon, annes all the !:!,,"Oluil/f;/"O.

ld inil hi r: If d 11 ' I Fhi r: ira sn 1,0, ,a,I<

wor agam mue t, an a .pIOUS peep e.o IS owne penwa- /'t niciem ucm,

bon, when the fcales of authority return to Ius adverfary, and at- 110ie au dacra tdt his contradiCl:ory ; and then, what can he urge for mercy for ~/,1(j_blm.m_ himfeifc or his party that Iheweth none to others? If he f:l}'(S S A"g,{ 1',(\, ,.!

. , , D')IlJ" Pro-

!hlt he is to be fpared bccaufc he beleeves true',bllt, the other was CO~\'~ & Com:

J!l-1~y perfecured becaufe he was III errour, he is ridiculous, For '.p, FllI'.d, it ~ he is as confidently belceved to be a hererick, as he beleeves his nunc dsln» j~l_ adverfary filCh, and whether he be or no,being the thing in qu~Il:i~ (/;"' e C' t:n-

f hi he i b hi . d b h h h !' t, {""lentu

on, 0, t 15 e,ls not ,to e IS ow.ne JU ge" llt, e r at at ~ V"U!("'171 a,}',"

allthomy on his fide, wtll be fiire to Judge azamfl: him, So that', IjUQilt,1 Tn"",,, What either fide canindiffctently make life of, it is good th'at nei- trt,Uilt p,oxithei"would becaufe' neither fide can with reafon 1iltficient doe 111' 11m cum t.s . . c • '. _ _ _.. . , . _ I 7)C/f'lO do: mu.tt It,mpreJudl,ce of th~ other. ~f.a man \\'111 f~y, tJ:at every man rabio], .... oc c,,-

mila take his adventure, and If It happens authoriry to-be Wid!. Wi en'flIlIlI.

Bb him,

'1 i'

I,

I'

194

The Liberty of <J>rephe.6ing.

him, he will perfecure his adverfaries , and if it rernes againft him he will bear it as well as he can,and hope for a reward ofMartyr_ dome and innocent fuffering; betides that this is fo equal! to be faid of all fides, and betides, that this is a way to make an erer, nalldifimion of hearts and charities, and that it will make Chri, il:endome nothing but a fhambles, and a perpetuall butchery, and as fail: as mens wits grow wanton, or confident, or proud, or abufed, fo often there will be new executions and malfwcs. Befides all this, it is rnofl unreafonablc and unjuft, as being con. trariant to thofe Lawes of J ulticc and Charity, whereby we are bound with greater zeale to fpare and preferve an innocent, then to condemne a guilty perf on, and there's Ieflc malice and iniquity in fparing the guilty, then in condemning the good •. Be. caine it is in the power of men to remit a gUilty perf on to divine judicanrre, and for divers cauies, not to u(e Icverity, but in no cafe is it lawfull, neither hath God at all given to man a power to condemne fitch perfons as cannot be proved ocher than pious and innocent. And therefore it is better, ifit Ihould fo happen, that we Ihould fpare the innocent perfon, and one that is acnuliy deceiv'd, then that upon the turn of the wheele, the true believers fhould be ddtroyed.

And this very reafon, he that had authority fufficient, and abo folurc to make Lawes.was pleafed to urge as a reafonablc induce. ment for the eilablifhing of that Law which he made for the in· dernnityof erring perfons.It was in th6 parable of the tares min~. led with the good feed in Agl'?J daminico the good feed (C~nft hirnfelfe being the interpreter) are the Children of the King. dome, the tares are the children of the wicked one, upon this comes the precept, gather not. the tares bl tkem/elve.r, Vllt let them 68th grow together till the h.1rvef, that I.S. tll.l the day of Judge. menr, This Parable hath beentortur'd infinitely to make It con· felk: its meaning, but we ibaH foone difpatcli it. All the di~,ul. ty and variety of expofition is reducible to thefe two que{ho~, What is meant by [G.athir not,] and what by [T.ares.] 'Ihat is, what. kind of fword is forbidden, and what kind of perfons are to be tolerated, The former is deare ; for the Ipirinnll. fword j~ notforbidden to be ufed to any fort of criminals, f~r. that w{)lI1d,deftroy the power og,ex,omlll~ation.' .:!hc.prohl~~~~

The LWerty Df 'Pr6fhefjing.

thercfore1yes againfl: the ufe of the temporal! fword, in clltting olf rome perfons. Who they are, is the next difficulty. BUt by 111m. or the children Df the wicl:!d one, are meant either perfons of ill lives, wicked perfons onely in re praElic!i, or elfe another kind of evill perfons, men criminal! or faulty In re intel!eElu.;t!i. One orotherofthefe two muftbe meant; a third I know not. But the former cannot be meant, becaufe it would dellroy all bodies polirique, which cannot coneill: without lawes, nor lawes without a compu!fory and a power of the fivord, therefore if criminalls were to be let alone till the day ofJndgemenr, bodies polirique mull:fiand or fall ad .arbitril:m impiorum, and no ching good could be protected, not Innocence it Ielfe, nothing could be fecure but violence and tyrannic. It followes then that (ince a kind ofperfons which are indeed faulcy are to be tolerated, it mull te meant of perfons faulty in another ki.id , in which the Gofpell had not in other places cleerely dhblilbed a power externally compulfory, and therefore Iince in all ac.'l:ions practically rriminall a power of the fword is permitted, here where it is denyed mull meane a crime of another kind, and by confequcnce

errors intelledualJ, commonly call'd herefie, Nllm~. 7'

And after all this the rear on there given confirmes this * in- 'v .• s Chryterpretation, for therefore it is forbidden to cut off rhefe tares, lvfr',builllI.47. Jell: we alfo pull lip the wheat with them, whic~ is the fn~me of ~,~~p~2s. thef: t~vo lail: ar~ulllents. For b~cau~e ~erefie IS of fo nrcc con. Augufr. Iideration, and difficult fcntenee, In thinking to root up herefies, Q::dl. in cap, we may by our * miflakes dellroy true dorlrine, which alrhouzh '3:M.t:S. Cy. itbc poffible to be done in all cares of pradicall quc!l:ion, by ~_ ~r,"~. Ep.hb·3 fiake, yet becaute cxtcrnall ac.'l:ions are more difcernable then T;'~ophyl. in inward [peculations and opinions, innocent perfons arc not fo 13. Matth. eaGly rnillaken for the guilty, in aCl:ions criminall, as in matters' S, Hierou. in of inward perfwafion, ARd upon that very;rea[on Saint ~artjn ~~r. ;~: }~:~'h. was zealous to have procured a rcvocatron of a Comrniflion pa,aho/amig' granted to certaine Tribunes to make enquiry in Sp.aine for fec.'l:s IJj p£ari,ne in and opinions; for under colour of rooting out the Prilcilia- ,cop", d"b~/f nill:s, there was much rnifchiefe done, and more likely to hap- i~;dttl~fat

pen to the Orthodox. For it happened then, as oftentimes C •

fmce, P allure porim & veJle quam fide heretiei« dijudic.ari {ott-

b.u flfiqual1do per Tribunos M,v;imi.. They were no good inquifi,

Bb: tors

196

§.q.

------------ ---_._-_-_-_ ---------':..._:_'_

tors of heretic all pravity, fo Sulpitim witncfles, But fecondly, the reafon fayes, that therefore thefe perfons are f6 to IX: permitted as not to be, perfecuted, lef] when a revolution of humane affaires Jets contrary opinions in the thronc or chaire , they who were perfecuted before, fhould now them. {elves become perfecnrors of other!'. and fo at one time or o. thcr, before or after, the. wheat be rooted up, and the truth be pcrfccutcd. But as thefc reafons confrrne the Law, and this

,N/1mb. t'. feni'" ofit,fo abftrat1:ing from the Law, it is of it fdfecoI1c1u-

ding by an argument <16 incommodo, and that founded upon the • 1/1 i in 7/0; principles of juilice, and right rcafon, as.I formerly alledaed.

f.e'Ctallt q'" I inc offi dl . h"" ,

m!c'tml cum ·1· We are not one y uncertamc ~f n Ing om trur s 111 rolt'

~II" InboiC ve. tel'S difput iblc , bur we ,arc certamc thae the bdland abldl rum imnnia- "DQctors of Chriflcndome have been actually deceived in mattUI;. (1", q".lm tel'S of great concernment, which thing is evident in all thofe dl1,IClIe rave- . n F ne r. f h r: d ..n ' tl r: f h -n: ~""')' erroes, rmnnccs 0 . penons I:om w ole. octnncs a torts 0 C run-

su. ill uos [.t. ans rcfpedively take liberty to diflenr, The errors of 'l'apia.r, 'O'l"n, 1"' IU[- Ireneus, Lnilanrisa, 'i,iff;n Martyr in the Millenary opinion, of ('11m! quam I'a- Saint Cyprian, Firmilan , the Alian and African Fathers in the

rum et mAlmm n: fR b .', S' - ff,(/.' , I' d

fit carnalia qucitron 0 c- aptlz~~lOn, :Ullt"""t~dn In us decretory an un-

1'''&lilufIlJdU charitable fcntcncc agalllfl: the unbapti:zed children of Chrifiiln ri",1IJwliJ Ic- parent" the Roman or the Greek Doctors in the qudtion of vmit nrr fllpc- the proceffion of the holy Ghofr, and in the matter of image"

ra)'e. 1111 III I be d . "A dI" , " ,

'IiO' f vi It are exarnp es ·yon exception. V~I . <1!~"'7fWV ~""," ~p.cf!,;t1.'''''

'llti lI:fc;~;,t'''V~eU{J-wr''JXf'e'",=. Now if thefe greatpecl'onages had been perqlllbm':-'JiIf}i- fecuredor dellroycd for their opinions.who Ihould have anfwered sn s ~ [ennti- the invaluable lotle the Church of God {hould have fufhined

VUJ {t,tt lit ex·· '11" {( II r: I d r. I' I B

~~an~liliiC/ln. III mi. Ing.o exce ent, 10 (Kemp ary, an 10 gre~r Ig Its I ut

'Jlie pa,le po!fit then ifthefe perfons erred, and by conlcqucnce, might have been liI/eltig) Deus. dciiroyed, what Ihould have become of others whofe underlhnPolisem» iu; III ding was lower, and their fecuriry lelfe, their errors more, and ~',~: C~~~a;~li their danger greater? At this me all men 111o~ld have, pa!fed ')','0:', dtcrpti through the fire, for who can efeape, when Saint Cyprtan and [unt, q1la!i vos Saint Arjlin cannot? Now to fay thefe perfons were not to be ,I"'pto, 'Ili-perfccuted becaufe although they had errors, yet none eondem.

~~'~;, u11:. ned.by the Church,aul;at .time or before. is to fay noth!ng to th.e

Con!r: El" 'purpofe, nor nothing that IS true. . Not title, becaufe Saint c)pn-

Fund , ens error was condemned by Pope Strphm~ which in the prefent

. fffik

i

, 'j

§ .. JJ. The Libert] of ProphejjiiJg.

-----

fenfe of the prevailing party in the Church of Rome, is to be condemned by the Church. Not to the purpofe ; becaufe it is nothing elfe buteo fay that the Church did tolerate their errors. For finee thofeopinions were open and manifefl to the world, that the ~ureh did not condemne them, it was Either becaufe thofe opimons were by the Church not thought to be errors, or if they wee, yet ~le thought fit to tolerate .the error and the erring perfon. And If Ihe would doe fo filII, It would 111 moll: cafes be better then now it is. And yet if the Church had condemned them, it.had not altered the cafe as to this quclliorxfor either the perfons upon the condemnation of their error 1110uld III I'C been perfeeuted or not. If 110t, why l1ull they now, aglinfl: the inltance and precedent of thofe ages who were confdl~dly wife & pious and whofe praCl:ice are often made to LIS arguments to follow? Jfyea, and that they had been perfccuted , it is the thi:l<7 which [his argument condemncs, and the 1011i: of the Church h~d been invaluable in the loting or the provocation and tcmpration of fuch rare perfonages ~ and the example and the rule of fo ill confeqpe:ue '. that all perfons might upon the fame grouad have tuftered~: and though fome had efcaped , yet no man could have any more Iecuriry from punifhrnent then from error.

5· Either the difagreeing pcrfon is in error, or not, but a true Nffm[..9. believer; in either of the cafes to perfecurc him is extremely irr.-

prudent. For If he be a true beleevcr; then it is a cleere elk rhat

Ive doe open violence to God, and his fen'ants, and his truth,

Jfhe be in error, what greater folly and Itupidiry then to give to

error the glory ofMarryrdome, and the advanrafo1es which are Jlccidentally confequmt to a perfecurio.i ? For as it was true of

the Martyrs .f!/..u.ries morimur toties i;,tji:imm-, andthe incrcafe of

their trouble was the increafe. of their confidence and the ella-

blifbmem of their perfwafions : fo it is in all falfe opinions , for

that an opinion is true or falfe is extrinfecall or accidental! t~ the ~onfequents and advantages it gets by being afl'ided. And there

IS a popular pity that followes all perfons in mifery, and tint c:ompallion breeds likenell'e of affedions, and that very often

produces likenefle of'perfwafion ; and fo much the rather.becanfc

there arifes a jcalou!ie and pre£jnant fufpicion that they who per-

Bb 3 ' fecure

127

,