A manuduction, or introduction vnto diuinitie containing a confutation of papists by papists, throughout the important articles of our religion; their testimonies taken either out of the Indices expurgatorii, or out of the Fathers, and ancient records; but especially the parchments. By Tho. Iames, Doctor of Diuinitie, late fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford, and Sub-Deane of the cathedrall church of Welles. This marke noteth the places that are taken out of the Indices expurgatorij: and this [pointing hand], a note of the places in the manuscripts.

The second Proposition.

Saints neither will, nor can be inuo∣cated of vs.

FIrst, it may bee doubted, who are Saints: not l all that are called, or catalogued, or m canonized for Saints, ma∣ny whose seules frie in Hell: there is no certaintie of their n cononizations. But imagine there be some true Saints, and true Miracles, whereby they are discouered to bee true Saints; yet sith Almighty God is the o beginning and foun∣taine of good, and Saints at the most, but a kind of conduits or pipes to conueigh the same vnto vs; Oh, let vs not be so pious to Men or Angels, that we prooue impious towards God: wor∣ship the Lord, and him onely serue, is the common voyce both of Men and Angels. p Will a man that is wise, beg and sue to the seruant, when he may haue free accesse to the Master of the house? Such preposterous q worshipping of Saints; such confiding and trusting to any deriuatitious sanctitie, is not able to open vnto vs, when we knocke at Heauen gates. The wisest and sobrest amongst the Papists, leaue it as one of Gods secrets (s either our knowledge of the Saints, or the

Saints knowledge of vs,) and expectnothing more, then the pious imitation of their vertuous deeds, which all of them commend vnto vs, t as the most acceptable seruice, both vnto them, and to God: they would not haue vs to confide, or re∣pose our u trusts either in Christs Humanitie, or his Mothers Virginitie, nor in any hee or shee-Saint in Heauen. It was a hard constitution, that was obtruded vnto them by the Church, against a plaine Text of Scripture. x Cursed bee he that putteth his trust in Man; and the y Christian Religion had thriued farre better amongst vs, if wee had not giuen so much vnto inuocation of Saints, and so little vnto the seruice of God.

Notes

• l

  † Multi Sancti quos nunquam in Diuorum eume∣rum retulit Rom sedes. Er. to. 9.
• m

  ☞ Guil. de s. A••••••e.
• Diui cognomi∣••••tur qui omnino sune homines. Er. c. 2. Cent. 7 p. 768.
• n

  Canonizationes intertae. Anton de Dom. l. 7. c. 5 §. 63.
• o

  † Sit ipse princi∣p••u••n, & sons, & illa quaeda•• ••edia, ne eum velis esse nimium p•••••• sis in Christū, & in San∣ctos supersh ••o•• i••pius. Nam & sancti & Ange∣li clamant De∣um adora Iac. Fa∣••er in Numb. p. 317.
• p

  † Quid facitis vobis patronos, & non confiditis Domino demus siue patrono, magis patrono quam Domino Domus confidentes. Iac. Faber in ep. ad Heb. c. 3. p. 234.
• q

  Praeposterus diuorum cultus. Lemni. de occultis Naturae miraculis, l. 3. •• 8. p. 358.
• † Deriuatitia sanctitas nondum sufficit aperire coelum. Iac. Faber in ••. ad Cor. c. 7. p. 116.
• s

  † De talibus secundum suum secretum disposuit Deus ••••.
• t

  † Imitatio eorum lis gratissima Laeu. Lemn de occultis Naturae mirac. l. 3 c. 8. p. 358.
• u

  † In humanitate Christi, in B. Virgi∣ne, atque Sanctis, non est caliocanda fiducia sub Deo. E•• to. 9. ad declarat. Dialegi qui dicitum naufragium.
• † Vt in Sanctia quam plurimum po••amus fiduciae. Er. to. 9.
• x

  † Maledictus qui confidit in homine. Er. to. 9. in Nauf••••gio.
• y

  † Nihilo peius ageretur cum religione Christians, •• paulò minus ribueretur inuocationi Diuorum quam tribuitur à nonnullis. Er. to 9. Ib.