Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE FIRST PART OF THE BLESSED estate of the Saints before God in heauen.

The Papists.

BEllarmine taketh great paynes, Lib. 1. De Sanctis, in sixe long chapters toge∣ther, to proue, that the Saints departed doe presently enioy the sight of God, and doe enter into blisse, and that their soules forthwith are receiued into hea∣uen, and are not kept in any secret by-places till the day of iudgement. But all this while he sighteth with his owne shadowe: for we grant, as much as he pro∣ueth, that the righteous are with Christ so soone as they are loosed from their

bodies, as Christ sayd to the theefe vpon the Crosse, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise, Luk. 23.42. See also to this purpose, Philipp. 1.23. 2. Corinth. 5.1. Heb. 12.22. All these places doe euidently proue, that presently after their de∣parture, the soules of the faithfull doe enioy the presence of Christ, and the ce∣lestiall companie of the Angels in heauen. Yet our aduersaries stay not heere, neither are contented with this, that the Saints are blessed: but proceede fur∣ther, and giue them a full possession of blessednesse, making no difference be∣tweene [error 22] them and the Angels in glorie, but affirme that they are as highly exal∣ted as the Angels are, Rhemist. annot. Luk. 15. sect. 2. And Bellarmine therefore taketh vp Caluine, because he saith, the Saints are yet in hope and expectation of the perfect fruition of glorie, Cap. 1. lib. 1. De Sanctis.

The Protestants.

WE confesse, that the Saints in heauen are alreadie a 1.1 blessed: yet they looke for the full accomplishment and perfection of their glorie, when as their bodies shall be glorified in the resurrection: Then it is sayd, they shall be like the Angels, and yet not in all things: much lesse are their soules now equall to the Angels in glorie, Fulk. ibid. annot. Luk. 15. sect. 2.

Argum. 1. The Saints shall be as the Angels, but not before the resurrection, Math. 22.30. Neither can it be proued out of that text, that they shall then be equall to the Angels in all things: for it is not all one to say; they shall be as the Angels, because they shall then neede no marriage, as to say they shall be equal to the Angels in all things. Apocalyps. 6.10. The soules vnder the altar doe crie, Lord, how long! Ergo, they are in expectation of greater glorie. And reason al∣so giueth as much, that the bodie and the soule being ioyned together in the kingdome of God, shall make a fuller weight and measure of ioye.

Argum. 2. The wicked spirits and damned soules, haue not yet their full and perfect torment: Ergo, neither the Saints their perfect ioye. The diuels are now tormented, and kept in chaines of darknesse, 2. Pet. 2.4. Iud. 6. But their full dam∣nation is reserued for the day of the Lord, Math. 25.41. They are not yet tor∣mented in such measure, as they shall be, and themselues make account for, Math. 8.29. Luk. 8.31.

Lastly, if now the Saints are equall to the Angels in ioye, their soules onely being in heauen: it then followeth, that in the resurrection, when their bodies shall be restored to their soules, their happines shall farre o 1.2 exceede the An∣gels: which no where the scripture teacheth vs, vnles they will thus reason, Christ tooke not the Angels, but the seede of Abraham, Hebr. 2.16. Ergo, wee are better then the Angels. But to this Augustine answereth very well: Some perhaps will say, that wee are better then the Angels, because Christ dyed for vs, and not for the Angels. Quale est (sayth he) ideo se velle aegrotum laudari, quia vitio suo tam detestabiliter aegrotauit, vt non posset aliter,* 1.3 quam medic•• morte sanari. As if a sicke man deserued commendation, because by his owne

fault, he was so dangerously sicke, that he could not be healed, but by the death of the Phisition. Quid hoc aliud est, quàm de impietate gloriari? Christus enim pro impijs mortuus est. What is this els but for man to boast of his wickednes? Christ dyed not for angels, but for men, because they were wicked.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Apocal. 14.13.
• o 1.2

  Rhemist. Luk. 20. sect. 3 af∣firme that some Saints shall be a∣boue the Angels.
• * 1.3

  Tractat. in Iohan. 110.