The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving that popery is against the Holy Scriptures, the unity of the catholike church, the consent of the antient doctors, the plainest reason, and common judgment of sense it self / by Richard Baxter.

§. 21. Of the Law.

Of Charity, or things to be done, the sum of which are in the Decalogue.

1. THat regenerate and baptized persons may perfectly fulfill the Law, so far as they are bound to fulfill it in this life.

2.* 1.1 The fulfilling of the Law in this life, is not onely possible but easie.

3. That every degree of Grace is sufficient to ful∣fill the commandments and expel all sins.

4.* 1.2 That we are not bound in this life to love God with all our hearts.

5. And all our souls, and all our strength: Nei∣ther are we bound, not to have evil concupiscence.

6. That venial sins, as they call them, do not hinder that perfect obedience which is required in this life.

7. That the regenerate can do more then the Law requires.

8. They teach their Disciples to worship God un∣der a humane shape or figure.

9. That Angels are to be worshiped and called upon.

10. Also Saints that are dead, are to be wor∣shiped and called upon.

11. That a more than ordinary worship is due to the blessed Virgin: such as they teach Christs huma∣nity wa•• to be worshiped with; but to the rest of the Saints, ordinary worship.

12. That the members of the Blessed Virgin are to be adored, for so they touch them [I worship and Bless thy feet, with which thou didst tread down the Old Serpents head: I worship and bless thy comely eyes, &c.]

23. That according to the five letters of her name Maria, she is the Mediatrix of God and men, the Auxiliatrix or helper of God and men, the repairer of the weak, the illuminater of the blind; the Ad∣vocate for all sin.

14. They name her the Queen of heaven, our La∣dy and Goddess; the Lady of Angels, the fountain of all graces. Orat. Steph. Patracen. in Concil. Later. Sess. 10.666.6. f.

15. For her honor and worship they have compo∣sed, Duties, Letanies, Rosaries, and a Psaltery all full of Idolatry.

16. In the Psaltery of Mary, whatsoever almost David had spoken of God and Christ, they blasphe∣mously give to her; as for example,

O Lady in thee have I put my trust, deliver my soul from mine enemies. In Psal. 7. And I will praise thee, O Lady with my whole heart, Psal. 9. I put my trust in thee O Lady, Ps. 10. Save me O Lady, Psal. 11. Keep me O Lady, because I have hoped in thee, Psal. 15. The heavens declare thy Glory, O Virgin Mary! Psal. 19. To thee O Lady have I lifted up my soul, Psal. 25. Have mercy on me, O Lady, who

art the mother of mercies, and according to the bowels of thy mercy cleanse me from all my sins, Ps. 51. And pour out thy Grace upon me. O Lady, Save me by thy name, and free me from all my misdeeds, Psal. 54. Deliver me from mine enemies, O Queen of the world! Psal. 59. Praise waiteth for our Lady in Sion, Psal. 65. Make a joyful noise unto our Lady all ye lands, Psal. 66. Let Mary arise and let all her enemies be scattered, Psal. 68. In thee O Lady, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion, Deli∣ver me in thy mercy, Psal. 71. Make a joyful noise un∣to our Lady all ye lands, serve her with gladness, Psal. 100. And so in the rest, all which they say are to be spoken out of a pious affection to the Blessed Virgin.

17. They prefer the Saints to the rule of the world, and the Government of the Church, as if they were the worlds Presidents, and the Churches Rectors. Yea they set them in the same place, as the Heathens of old did their titular Gods and preservers: and as∣sign unto them several Provinces, Offices, and Juris∣dictions (because it would be a vast burden for every one to look to all.) For, every Region, e∣very Parish, every Fraternity of Artificers have their titular Gods and Patrons. So P. Jovius calls them, Histor. li. 24. in the end. And there came forth late∣ly a Commentary of Philip the 39. Bishop of the Church at Eistreet, of the ••itular Gods of that Church, S^t Richard▪ S^t Wumbald, S^t Walpurg. And we may as truely affirm of the Papists what Gregory de valentia saies of the Heathens; For that very thing sayes he, we may apprehend them to be idolaters, be∣cause they distribute their several Provinces of offices to several creatures, as to Gods, &c.

There are certain Saints for the cure of every dis∣ease

almost, and for curing of evils: as Sebastian and Rochus for the plague: Apollonia for the tooth-ache: Antony for the Wildfire or Gangrene: Ottilia for sore eyes: Quirinus for Fistula's, Sigismond and Pe∣tronella for a Feaver, Apollinaris for the Privities (as Priapus of old) Liberius for the Stone, and also Benedict. Wolfangus cures Convulsions, Romanus the possessed, Valentinus the Epilepticks (as Hercules of old) Anastatius such as are mad.

The work of delivering Captives is committed to Leonard, of assisting in war to George (as of old to Mars.) Nicholas, and Christopher are Patrons to Seamen: the three Kings, viz. of Cullen to Travel∣ers: Margaret to women in childbirth (as Juno Lu∣cina of old.) Gregory and Katharine to Students (as Appollo and Minerva of old.) To Merchants Erasmus, to Painters Lucas, to Smiths Eulogius, to Shoo-mak∣ers Crispin, to Taylers Gutman, to Potters Goacus, to Weavers Severinus, to Carpenters Joseph, to horse∣men George, to Hunters Eustachius, to Whores Afra and Ma••dlin (as Venus and Flora of old.)

They appoint Austin for Divines, Juo for Lawyers, Cosman and Damian for Phisicians (as of old Aescu∣lapius)

John keeps men from Poison, Laurentius and Flo∣rianus from fire and burning (as Vesta of old.) Ser∣vatius from diseases, Job from the Scab, Barbaca from dangers, Paul and John from Tempests, Chri∣stopher from suddain death, Hubert from the biting of a mad dog.

Erasmus and Anne (as Juno of old) make men rich. Protasius and Gervasius discover thieves, Vin∣centius and Hierom restore things lost, Felicitas gives Boyes in child-bearing.

They set Ʋrbane over the Vines (as Bacchus of old) S^t Lupus over Corn (as Ceres of old) Gallus over the Geese, Wendiline over Sheep, Pelagius over Oxen, Eulegius over Horses, Anthony over the Swine; Medardus has the care of Wine, Ludovicus Minorisa of Ale, &c.

They worship fourteen whom they call Assistants or Helpers, George, Basil, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christopher, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Achacius, Eusta∣chius, Aegidius, Margaret, Barbary, and Katharine.

18. The Reliques also of the Saints they worship and reverence, of which I will relate twelve errors and abuses of the Papists, as they are noted by Chemnitius.

1. That the bodies, ashes, or bones of the Saints are to be taken out of their graves, and placed in some high place, as upon the high Altar, or some other conspicuous place, and to be dressed with gold and silver, and silk, &c.

2. That those Reliques ought to be carried in pub∣like processions and prayers, and to be shewed and offered for Christian people to see, and touch, and kiss.

3. That such Reliques are to be approved by the Pope; and that approbation is to be by canonizing them.

4. That tis a singular and meritorious worship of God, if the people to obtain help by it, shall touch, kiss, or walk before with an adoring mind and gesture, or shall do reverence to these Reliques, by candles, silke coverings, garlands or other the like ornaments.

5. That the grace and power of God (which they say is in them or present by them) is to be sought for in these Reliques: and that they are made partakers

of it, who do touch them or behold them.

6. That 'tis an acceptable sacrifice to God, to offer up precious gifts to these Reliques.

7. Many indulgences for sin, are promised to such as touch and kiss them, &c.

8. That our prayer is the better, worthyer, and more acceptable to God, if it be done by or before the Saints Reliques, by whose merits we may obtain help: And therefore in our necessities we must make Vows, and take Pilgrimages unto those places, where the Reliques of Saints are held to be, that we may call upon them for their help.

9. That it adds much to the holiness of the Sacra∣ment of the Eucharist, if the Saints Reliques are set inclosed upon the Altar, nay that the Altar is conse∣crated by their touching it.

10 That the Saints Reliques may be lawfully laid over one, or carried about ones neck in devotion and faith to God, and the Saints whose Reliques they are:

11. Oaths among the Papists are taken by touch∣ing the Saints Reliques that so the obligation of the oath may be divided betwixt God and the Saints.

12. All places among the Papists are full of uncertain, counterfeit, and false Reliques, to which without difference the same veneration and honor is given.

19. They make them Pictures to worship them.

20. They dispute, that Images of God are not forbidden.

21. That Images are properly and per se to be worshiped.

23. That Images are to be worshiped with the same worship, as is due to the Person, or Exemplar.

24. They defend Pilgrimages to holy places, and Reliques and Saints Pictures: and they promise large indulgences to Pilgrims.

25. That the Cross of Christ is to be worshiped with the worship Latria.

26. That they are in some sort sanctified who touch the Reliques or the Cross.

27. That some holiness accrues to things that are signed with the Cross

28 That the Sacrament of the Altar▪ or the host consecrated, is to be worshiped with Latria

29. They adore the Pope as a kind of Deity.

30. The greatest part of the Popish Religion is meer superstition, and wil-worship: yea meer hy∣po••••isie▪ or a form of godliness, resting in external works and observations.

31. They worship God after the commandments of men.

32. they defend the ceremonies invented by them∣selves or taken from Jews or Heathens to be a part of worship pleasing to God.

33. And to be observed, as the Law of God.

34 That their observation deserves remission of sin.

35 That no ceremonies appointed by the Church can be omitted without mortal sin, nor without scandal.* 1.3

36. That things consecrated by themselves, as holy Water, Agnus Dei's, &c. have spiritual effects, to drive away divels, to blot out sins, &c.

37. They conjure salt (yea and herbs) and conse∣crate it, that it may be healthful to the mind and bo∣dy of those that take it.

38. They Baptize and consecrate the Bels, making them Godfathers, to fright away divels, and drive a∣way Tempests.

39. That their ringing does profit the dead.

40. The Chrism being consecrated the Bishop and Presbyters salute it, in these words, God save St. Chrisma Ave S. Chrisma.

41. They give it a power to confer upon the a∣nointed health to the body, and holiness to the soul, and so the Holy Ghost himself

42. That every Church solemnely consecrated, is indued with a divine vertue.

43. The many abuses of fasting and prayer I tou∣ched before.

44. They teach men to swear by the creatures.

45. They deny oaths to be fit for the perfect.

46. Vows made to the Saints they defend.

47. That the Pope can absolve from the bond of vows and oaths.

48. They consecrate feast dayes to the worship of Saints.

49. And some they consecrate to patronize their own errors as the feast of Conception, the feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, the feast of Christs body, and of Peters chair, and of all souls, &c.

50. That feast dayes are in truth more holy then others.

51. They exempt the Clergy from the secular yoke, i.e. they exempt Ecclesiasticks, both persons and goods, from the obedience of Temporal Lords, and from their jurisdiction in personals and reals, in civil things and criminal; and therefore that the civil judge cannot punish Clergy-men.

52. That the Clergy is not bound to pay tribute to Princes.

53. That the Rebellion of a Clergy-man against the King, is not Treason.

54. That the Pope can forbid subjects to keep the oath of fidelity, to Christian Kings, if they be such as acknowledge not the Roman sea.

55. That the Pope can absolve subjects from the oath of fidelity.

56. That the Pope has power to depose Princes.

57. That the subjects of such Princes are bound to obey such a sentence, if it be published.

58. That if grave and learned men (such as the Jesuites especially are) shall judge any Prince to be a Tyrant, it is lawful for their subjects to overthrow them, and if they want power to poison them.

59 That the subjects of the most Christian Kings, whom they call Lutherans and Sacramentarians, are free from all bonds, and that they may lawfully de∣stroy their Kings.

60. That 'tis not lawful for Christians to tolerate a King that is an Infidel or a heretick indeavoring to draw men to his Sect, but they are bound to depose him.

61. That the ancient Christians did not depose such because they wanted power.

62. That the Pope may give the Kingdoms and Principalities, and Lordships of all those whom he judges hereticks unto his Roman Catholikes, or may adjudge them to those that can lay hold of them.

63. That 'tis not onely lawful, but meritorious to kill Princes that are excommunicated by the Pope.

64. They suffer Stews, and stoutly defend their toleration.

65. They forbid the Clergy to mary.

66. That Priest does better, say they, that keeps

a Concubine, then he that marries a wife.

67. That marriage after the vow of Chastity, is worse then Adultery.

68. That single life (even as it is vowed and practi∣sed in the Roman Church) is a worship most accept∣able to God, and satisfactory for sin, and merito∣rious of eternal life.

69. That the Pope with a whorish intention, makes gain (as Leno did) by the prostitution of Whores.

70. That all faults are sold at a certain price, in the Popes Taxe.

71. An officious lye they allow of.

72. They approve and teach the Mistery of equi∣vocation.

* 1.473. The act of counter∣feiting and dissembling with great men, they commend, as good and profitable.

74. They say Faith is not to be kept with Here∣ticks.

75. That the desires of the will going before as∣sent, are not sins.

76. Neither is concupiscence a sin in the Bap∣tized.

77. That in concupiscence there is onely the evil of punishment not of sin.

78. By that command, thou shalt not covet, it is not forbidden, that we have no evil de∣sires.

I have recited a huge Catalogue of errors, to which I doubt not but many more may be heaped up: As those (which we are refuting in this book)

about Antichrist: By all which it appears, that the opposition of the Pope to Christs truth, is not a particular opposition, as in some hereticks but uni∣versal, such as we may look for from Antichrist, Thus far Bishop G. Downame.

FINIS.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  2. What need you confess sin, that can fulfill the Law so easi∣ly? out of your own mouthes are you judged now, that do not that which you think so easie.
• * 1.2

  4. Others of them say the contrary.
• * 1.3

  35. I would they had no company in this error.
• * 1.4

  72, 73. This may give us some light into the juglings of our times.