Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

Quest. 7. Whether more Religions then one may be Tollerated, where the true Church is Established?

In the opening of this Question, knowing the times wherein I live, and the fewnesse of my years, I will not shew you my opinion, but you shall hear the Judgement of a Master in our Israel, that was ga∣thered with gray hairs to his Fathers, and lately fell asleep.

One Religion is to be Tolerated, and no more to be publickly taught then one.

1. Because there is but one God, who is the object of Religion; his Essenc•• being simple and indivisible, his worship is also to be: diversitie of Religion breeds and produceth only diversity of O∣pinion touching God, which in time may in the conceits of men d••stroy his unity and Onenesse.

2. As there is but one truth, so there ought to be but one Reli∣gion; for false Religions either teach to worship false Gods, or else in a false way and manner to worship the true God; which made God himself in constituting the Church of the Jews, in a strict manner to give charge touching that: and in his constituting the Church of the Christians to do the same, by commanding them

to stone that Prophet that taught otherwise, and us to curse that Angel that should teach other Doctrine then he did then by Moses, and now to us by his Son, give, teach, command and appoint, Deut. 13.1. Gal. 1.8.

3. There is but one Church, which is the ground and pillar of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15. and one Spirit to lead that Church in the way of truth; and therefore there ought to be but one Religion, which is the Doctrine of that one Truth.

4. There is but one way to heaven, and eternal Life, in which way few, through ignorance and errour, walk or find; and ways to Hell and destruction, which many, through corrupted nature, fall in and run in: It is dangerous to have, or to suffer any to stand. at the head of that way to call in Passengers from that road which leadeth unto life, since men of themselves are apt and prone enough to turn from it, and go in the contrary path.

5. Religion is the foundation of States and Kingdoms; and diversity of foundations will never keep up long a building; herein we find those States in Scripture to stand surest, whose Kings feared God; and they that feared, put down all false worship.

6. Religion is the band and cord by which the unity of the State is preserved: if there be heard diversities of Doctrine, and the unity of Faith broken, either the people are divided in their affections, or among themselves, and against their Princes or their Governours. Hence proceed burnings, emulations, strifes, en∣vy, malice, sedition, faction, Rebellion, Innovation, treachery and disobedience, and infinite more mischiefs. Let me add two more.

7. Let all diligence be used to keep out, or subdue false Religi∣ons; Satan will keep them in we know by the Proverb, Where God hath his Church, the Devil will (whatever man do to the contrary) have his Chappel: A toleration seems to bring stones and timber for the enlarging of it, and making it a Synagogue.

8. The Angels of the Churches of Pergamos, and Thyatira, Rev. 2. are blamed for tolerating false Religions (taking it for granted that there is but one true, ziz. the Catholick) one of them had them tolerated, possibly not by Law, but by connivance and indulgence, who taught the Doctrine of Balaam, to eat things

sacrificed to Idols, and to commit fornication, whether natural or spiritual; and the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans, which God did hate then, and yet in this Age it passes for true Divinity with many. The other suffered Iez••bel, who called her self a Prophe∣tess, first to teach, and then (as a proper consequence) to seduce: our Praedicantiffs do the same, and yet plead for a toleration; since Paul gave out a Law concerning womens teaching, I Tim. 2.12. we finde none but this Iezabel undertaking such an Office.

It is observable, that the Angels of the Church are reproved for bearing with, or suffering them so to do; and they were the Church Officers, Ministers, or Bishops; by which it seems they had power and authority to restrain and controul them, to pull them out of their pulpits, and to stop their mouths. Whether they were Lords or no, let their power and authority speak; to do this was Lord-like in my apprehension; and not to do it was a ground of Gods accusation, Rev. 2.19, 20.

This Authority, was it from heaven, or of men? If from Hea∣ven, then Church Officers have power to controul, and put down both Balaam and Iezabel, and to stop their mouths, and yet not to be accused for Factious. If of men, then Church-Officers ought to put their power in execution, and resist and stop the proceedings of lawless persons, command that none hear Iezabel, and stop the mouths of all irregular and presumptuous Teachers, and not to be accused as busie-bodies; and though they be, yet let rather men accuse them for performing, then God should accuse them for not doing their duty.

Yet if the Religions be such as do not overthrow the funda∣mentals of Truth, or such as disturb not the Government establi∣shed in that State, Church, or Kingdom, wherein they be; and that the Professor of those Religions be not factious, ambitious, or pertinarious; having no other end in holding their opinions, but Gods glory, and the satisfaction of their own consciences, and willing to be taught and be convinced of their errors: diversities of Religions may be tolerated, but in private only; time may pro∣duce a reno••ncing of them, when violence might harden them. God hath his own times of Calling men; and let the humble, good

honest Christian have his time. Wise States, Kings and Princes for this cause have granted a private toleration. The very Turk, who is zealous in his Religion, grants this; it is especially to be granted in times of great infection; then indeed a total suppressi∣on in private of different opinions might prove, and end in a great disturbance both to Church and State: but Philosophandum est, sed paucis.