340 POLEMICAL WORKS. XIII. The Reformed Catholics have not offered to bring in any new opinion or doctrine into the Church; but only labour and endeavour, to procure some late and superfluous additions to the Faith, to be cashiered and rejected. XIV. Vainly, therefore, and unjustly is it required of them, that they should shew the succession of their Religion and Church, as raised upon a quite other foundation, to be derived from the Apostolic Times to the present; since all that they profess, is a desire to purge the very same Church of God from certain new errors and superstitious rites, wherewith it is miserably defiled. XV. Out of all which premises, it necessarily followeth, that the Roman Church, which, upon these grounds, sticketh not to exclude true Christians, differing from them in matter of such doctrines, from the Church of God and Eternal Salvation, is justly guilty of great insolency, and horrible breach both of charity and peace; and, that the Reformed, notwithstanding this rash and unjust censure of theirs, forasmuch as they do inviolably hold all the points of the truly ancient and Christian Faith, do justly claim unto themselves a most true and perfect interest in the communion of all Christian Churches, and Eternal Salvation. XVI. There is no less danger, in adding to the Articles of Christian Faith, than in diminishing them or detracting from them. XVII. Those points, which the Roman Church is wont to add, and forcibly to put upon all Catholics, as well the Reformed as those whom they term their own, are such as are grounded on her own mere authority. XVIII. The Reformed Catholics do justly complain, and prove that those points which the Roman Church imposeth and urgeth as the meet additions both of faith and divine worship, are neither safe, nor agreeable to the holy Word of God; and plead it to be utterly unjust, that those accessory points, of their devising or determining, wherein every Church should be left free and at her due liberty, should be imperiously thrust upon them, notwithstanding their vehement and just resistance. XIX. It argues a palpable self-love in the Roman Church, and must needs at the last draw down a grievous judgment from God force of the words, truly and really turned into the very Flesh, Blood, and Bone of Christ: now, I say, this their doctrine of Transubstantiation is far from being any principle of faith; but only a point of their own divinity, devised and maintained by themselves. They condemn us, for refusing to pray to Saints, or to worship Images: I say, that this doctrine, that Saints ought to be invoked or Images worshipped, is far from being a principle of faith; but only one of their own theological positions, devised and imposed by themselves. The like may be and must be said of all their other points obtruded on the Church; wherein I hope no wise Reformed Catholic will think he hath reason to dissent from me, or to misdoubt my proposition. upon her, that this Particular Church will needs make herself uncapable of any better condition: in that she vainly brags, that she cannot err; and fearfully accurseth and sends down to hell all those, that proffer her the least endeavour of the means of her remedy and redress. XX. Upon all these grounds, it is plain that the Reformed Catholics are in a safe estate; and that, contrarily, the Roman are in a miserable error and fearful danger; and, lastly, that it is only through their default, that the Church of God is not reduced to a happy purity and peace. 2 Tim. ii. 7. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. INURBANITATI PONTIFICIA RESPONSIO JOSEPHI EXONIENSIS. AN ANSWER ΤΟ POPE URBAN'S INURBANITY: EXPRESSED IN A BRIEF SENT TO LEWIS THE FRENCH KING, EXASPERATING HIM AGAINST THE PROTESTANTS IN FRANCE. WRITTEN IN LATIN BY THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, JOSEPH, LORD BISHOP OF EXETER. TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY HIS SON, ROBERT HALL, MASTER OF ARTS, IN EXEter college, in Oxford. |