of undeniable teftimonies. To which I fhall only adde 2 or 3. paffages out of Cyprian, by which the Reader may evidently difcern, how little weight was then laid upon (that which is now faid to be infallible) Tradition, and. the teftimony of the prefent Church. Tradition indeed was the plea urged by the Bishop of Rome against Cyprian and the African Bishops: now mark what the reply is. Two things Cyprian anfwers: 1. That they of Rome did not pbferve all antient Traditions, and this (faith he) appears from their opinion about Eafter: which by the way, difcovers the vanity of that fuppofition which they lay as a basis of the present position, viz. That the Church of Rome delivers nothing, but what the profeffeth to have received from her Anceltors. 2. He anfwers, That this was but a humane Tradition, and therefore not infallible (a). And it is confiderable, that he writes thus to the Pope, by which we may fufficiently understand, what was Cyprians judgment, and the faith of that age concerning the infallibility of Tradition as alfo of the Pope, and Church of Rome. And conformable to Cyprians was the decifion of the whole Councel of Carthage, When truth is manifeft, (say they) let custome yield to truth, and although hitherto none did baptize Hereticks in the Church, now let them begin to baptize them(b). And in another place,Cyprian fpeaking of the cuftome of mixing wine and water in the Sacrament, hath these words: Nor should any one think that the custome of fome is to be followed, for we are to enquire whom they followed, for onely Chrift is to be followed: and he adds,that we are not to regard what others have done before us, but what Chrift, who is before all, firft did; for we

(a) Epift. 74. ad Pompeium fratrem....

(b). Veritate manifestata cedat confuetudo veritati, ut etfi in præte vitum quis in Ecclefia hæreticos non babtizabat, nune baptizare incipiat, Opera Cypriani per Pamelium. p. 402.

must

must not follow mens cuftomes, but Gods Truth (a). And in another place he pofitively afferts, that when any thing is out of order, the onely way to be fatisfied is to go to the fountaine, to the head and originall of Divine Tradition, to Evangelicall and Apoftolicall Tradition (b). From all which it undeniably followes that Cyprian and his bre-.. thren did not judge the Tradition of the next preceding Age infallible nor the Teftimony of the prefent Church fufficient, (as these Gentlemen now do) and confequently thought it might introduce opinions contrary to what they received from their Ancestors, when by thefe allegations it appears as plainly, as if it were written with a. Sun beame, they judged it liable to mistakes and errours; and this is the very Doctrine of the Protestants.

§. 23. 3. There might be an agreement and defigne amongst many perfons and eminent members of the Church, to corrupt the Doctrine received from their Ancestors for their worldly in tereft and carnall ends, of which almost all Ages afford us wofull and innumerable inftances. With the Readers leave, I will exemplify this Propofition in a notorious inftance,in a Doctrine of great concernment, (which is the prora & puppis, The foundation stone and corner ftone of the Romish Religion, and if you will take Bellarmines word,neceffary to Salvation) I meane the Popes Supremacy. I beg the Readers pardon, if I do a little more largely infift upon it, then my manner is, because the story is remarkable, and ftrikes at the root of this novel conceit,concerning the impoffibility of a wilfull deception: Me White tels us, the Church cannot be deceived in Tradition, and efpecially the Church and

(a) Non eft quod exiftimet aliquis fequendam effe quorundam confuetudinem,quærendum eft enim quem ipfi funt fccuti. -Nam non nifi Cbriftus fequendus eft Non debemus attendere quid alius ante aos faciendum putaverit &c.Epift.63. (b). Ep. 74.

Bishop

Bishop of Rome (who by the consent of all the Papilts have been the most faithful confervators of Tradition): The Papists generally agree, that they have an authentick and univerfall Tradition, on the behalfe of the Popes Supremacy, of which the right of appeales is a principall branch, and the greatest evidence: And this Tradition (fay they came to them from the Apostles, by the Fathers of all ages fucceffively. Well then,to come to the ftory. In the year 417, There was a famous Councell at Car thage, (owned by Bellarmine and Baronius by the name of The generall Councel at Carthage) confifting of 217 Bishops, among whom was Alypius and St Auftin. Zo fimus being Pope at that time, fends his Legates thither, and pretends a right of appeales from the African Churches to himself at Rome, and to make this good, he alledgeth for it fome of the Canons of the Councel of Nice, for he afcends no higher, the more filly wretch be! for if the Doctrine of the prefent Church of Rome be true, he might have brought that, which was more evident and irrefiftible then 100 Canons of Nice, (which now all the world rings of,and all their difcourfes are full fraught with) viz. The inftitution of Chrift, the fupremacy of Peter devolved upon him, the univerfall Tradition of the whole Church. But of all these here is altum filentium. for you must conceive these were Arguments laid up in ftore (like the treasure in St Marks Cheft (for fome high future exigencies,or wifely reserved for a feafon,wherein the World should wonder after the beast, and be most capable of fuch impreffions: Well, The Fathers confider his Petition (for as yet the Popes were not mafters of their Art, and had not learned their leffon of voluimus, ftatuimus, mandamus) and marvell at the propofition,and tell Fauftus and his collegues, that they find no fuch Canons in their Copies of the Councell of Nice as were alledged, and had indeed been forged at Rome (as is ac knowledged

knowledged even by that Popish Councel of(a) Florence) Hereupon a motion is made and agreed, that they send forthwith to the Bifhops of Conftantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch, for their Copies of the Acts of that Coun cell. (A fawcy trick it was not only to deny the Popes Infallibility, but also to question his verity) when they receive them they find that the pretended Canons were not there, and fo conclude, there should be no appeales from Africa to the Roman Bishop: A ftrange boldneffe in this Councell, to reverse the inftitution of Christ, and ufurpe upon St Peters jurifdiction, and provoke him upon whom they wholly depended for the Confirmation of all their decrees! it is great pitty they were not better advised: Well, you may imagine what fad tidings this was at Rome: You will defire to know what their Anfwer is, why then for your fatisfaction; 1 pray you take notice: They have a Tradition at Rome, it is part o that infcription upon Seth's Pillars, erected before the flood, which fofephus mentions, the Counterpart whereof they have in the Vatican) that when ever his holineffe is gravel'd with an hard Argument, and can do no good a bout the premises,it may be lawful for him,or others plea ding for him,to deny the Conclufion : Bellarmines words are expreffe: The African Fathers were deceived through ignorance (b). What pitty was it that Bellarmine was not their Secretary to informe them better? The Afria can Fathers did rafbly, and departed from the example and obedience of their Ancestors faith Stapleton (c) qd, they

(a) Nonne vides reverende Pater fummum Pontificem Zoximum fal fam decretum & non in Synodo promulgatum ad tantum concilium pre Te tam magna mififfe !

(b) Africani Patres ignorantia decepti erant. de Pontif.lib.2.cap.25. S.Refpondemus. (c) Patres Africani temere fecerunt & à major am fuorum obedientia & exemplis hac in re recefferunt, in Princip. fid. con. 3qu. 7 ia folut. arg.z,

1

were

'were naughty boyes and deferved to be whipped into better manners. The more inexcusable the Pope that did not thunder them into order by his Excommunications; But why do I mention thefe: Behold, a greater then Bellarmine or Stapleton is here, Enter Boniface the fecond who thus Writes in his Epiftle to Eulabius (an Epiftle owned for his by Pighius, Lindanus, Sanderus, Turrianus, Alanus Cops, and Harding though Bellarmine being urged with it, pretends it is fufpected, but dare not lay it is forged:) Aurelius with his collegues (whereof S. Auftin was one) by the inftigation of the Devill, began proudly to exalt themselves against the Church of Rome (a). So it feemes thefe Fathers were wickedly refolved against the Supremacy of the Pope, with a Flectere fi nequeo fuperos', Acheronta movebo, and they, whom fo many of the Learned Papiits affirme to be infallibly guided by the Spiritof God, his Holineffe declares they were acted by the Di vell: By this time I hope the Reader, that is not wholly blind, may fee the vanity of this Argument from Tradition Catholick Tradition is pretended at Rome for the Popes Supremacy and Infallibility: This Tradition) with others comes to them by uninterrupted fucceffion from the Apoftle, wherein (by the Argument I have now in confideration) it was impoffible for the Bishops or Governours of the Church, either to mifunderstand the mind of their Ancestors,or wittingly to deceive their pofterity: That which they make impoffible to be done, the intance propofed difcovers to be certainly done, it being impoffible that the Fathers,fhould make fuch a decree, if they had not either been ignorant of fuch a Tra dition (as Bellarmine chargeth them) or wilfully and ma

(a) Aurelius cum Collegis, infigante diabolo fuperbire contŸa. Ecclefiam Romanam cœpit.

liciously