faction in matters of Religion) should addresse himselfe if he require judgement of the Essential Church, there is little comfort, and lesse assurance to be had from them, for they consist most of the ignorant and common people, and have chiefest need of instruction themselves: besides, it is impossible to know the judgment of all Christians, (who make the universal Church) in all or any particular poynts of Religion. If he appeal to Councels, their right calling is uncertain, their Decrees and Canons are doubtfull, for many of them are adjudged by themselves erronious, many spurious and counterfet: If he would consult with the Pope and Cardinals in their Consistorie, it is a journey too costly and tedious; besides, it will appeare they are subject unto

errour.

It resteth then that we examine the infallibilitie of particular Churches, and in particular that we enquire whether the Roman Church be that Church which wee are commanded to hear and obey, by the authoritie of the Scriptures.

SECT.

SECT. XVIII.

THE MOST COMMON PLEA OF THE ROMANISTS DRAWNE FROM THE INFALLIBILITIE, AUTHORITIE, AND TITLE OF THE CATHOLIQUE CHURCH, IS PROVED TO BE FALSE, VAIN, AND FRI

VOLOUS.

To give the Church of Rome her due, let us take a briefe survey of her first foundation, and let us see what priviledge did anciently belong unto her, and what authoritie she claimeth at this day. First, the Apostle Saint Paul in his Epistles to the Romans, congratulates with them, and sendeth them this greeting: To all that bee in Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints: (Rom. i. 7.) he testifieth further with prayer and thanksgiving, that their Faith was spoken of throughout the whole world: (Ib. ver. 8.) nay more, he makes an earnest request to God, that he might see the members of that Church, and impart Spiritual gifts unto them, to the end they might be established. These testimonies of the Apostle were speciall Characters of an eminent and glorious Church (although in truth, there is not so much as this name of a Church given to the Romans in all the Scriptures, (unlesse they will allow the Church at Babylon to be the Church of

Rome :)

of

Rome) and heere was a probable assurance continued stability and perseverance in the Faith in all Ages: but behold the same Apostle, which did so much glory in behalfe of their Catholique Faith, which gave God thankes for them; which, without doubt, prayed for the continuance of that Faith: (For God is my witnesse (saith he) without ceasing I make mention of you always in my Prayers.) (Rom. i. 9.) As if he had foreseen by the spirit of Prophesie, they would glory in their own worth and merits. Shortly after, in his eleventh Chapter of the same Epistle, gives them this speciall Caveat: Be not high minded, but feare and withall gives a speciall reason of that Caveat. For if God spared not the naturall branches, take heede also lest hee spare not thee: behold therefore the bountifulnesse and severitie of God; towards them that have fallen, severitie; but towards thee goodnesse, if thou continue in his goodnesse; otherwise also thou shalt bee cut off. This Doctrine of the Apostle doth trench so farre into the present estate of the Church of Rome, that the Rhemists forbeare their Annotations upon this place, for the truth is, these last words, Thou also shalt bee cut off, doe plainely intimate, that the Church of Rome from the time of the Apostles had a possibilitie of falling, and consequently was but a particular Church: for so it befell the Church of Jerusalem, and much more (saith the Apostle) may it befall the Church of Rome.

* The church at Babylon elected. 2 Pet. v. 13.

Let

Let us compare the testimonies and promises in behalfe of the Roman Courch, with other particular and famous Churches in the time of the Apostles, and see whether those promises did more largely extend to the faith of the Roman Church, then to other Churches. Saint Paul (writing to the Thessalonians, termes them by the name of the Church) he gives this large testimonie in their behalfe: From you sounded out the word of the Lord, not onely in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith which is toward God is gone forth into all places, that wee have no need to speake any thing: (Thess. i. 8.) yea more, he gives them a kind of assurance for the perpetuitie of their faith; The Lord is faithfull, and will establish you, and keepe you from all evil: (2 Thess. iii. 3.) yet this Church is fallen away, and hath lost her first faith. The Ephesians are termed by the Apostle, The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. (1 Tim. iii. 15.) And for this Church the Apostle makes this confession: I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to bee strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man (Ephes. iii. 14, 16.) yet we see this Church which was the ground and pillar of truth, and for which the Apostle earnestly prayed for, is rased to the ground, and utterly fallen from the truth. The Corinthians are tearmed by Saint Paul, The Church of God called to be Saints. (1 Cor. i. 2.) And this Church is farther witnessed

:

G G

nessed by the same Apostle, that shee was rich in all things through Christ, in all kinds of speech and knowledge, and that shee was not destitute of any gift: yea, he delivers confident in behalfe of that Church, that God would establish them unto the end, even the day of the Lord Jesus Christ: yet soon after some of them denied the Resurrection, they fell from the truth, and are now subject to the Turke. If then the Church of the Thessalonians, of the Ephesians, of the Corinthians, (touching the outward face, and visibilitie of the local Churches) if they are all fallen, notwithstanding such faire testimonies and large promises in their behalfe, (which also were accomplished in the Elect) what stabilitie could the Church of Rome promise to herselfe, which had not so much as the name of a Church, but was threatened upon the breach of a condition, that they also should bee cut off? Whether the condition be broken or no, I will not heere dispute: but this I may safely say, If the Jewes being the Lord's peculiar people, and the naturall branches, were broken off, how much more the Church of Rome, being but a wild Olive branch, might bee cut off from the faith of Christ? doubt the Spirit of God foresaw, that the Romanist would glory in the name of the Church, and advance that name above his word; and therefore the word of God gave not so much as a name of a Church, nor promise of infallibility and perseverance unto it, but a special caveat to put them in mind not to be high minded. I say there

No

fore