Exomologesis, or, A faithfull narration of the occaision and motives of the conversion unto Catholick unity of Hugh-Paulin de Cressy, lately Deane of Laghlin &c. in Ireland and Prebend of Windsore in England now a second time printed with additions and explications by the same author who now calls himself B. Serenus Cressy, religious priest of the holy order of S. Benedict in the convent of S. Gregory in Doway.

CHAP. XXVII.

Proofes ••ut of Script••ure &c. for the Churches au••hority.

1. THe speciall grounds, from whence to mine own full satisfaction, J collected this assu••ance, That the Church alone was that divinely authorised proponent, from whom I was to receive divine Revelations, and these in the sense that she received and proposeth them; as likewise the method and manner ac∣cording to which, as distinctly as I could, I first gave an account to mine own understand∣ing, and now to others, were as follows.

2. It having been before declared, and con∣formably testified by all kinds of antient Ec∣clesiasticall writers, 1. That the doctrines and formes of practise of Christian Religion were by the Apostles with great care and assiduous inculeations firmly setled in all Churches by them founded and established: To which form other Churches, by their successors converted, generally conformed themselves, as Tertullian (de Prescrip.) saith, The Apostles founded Churches in every City, from which (Churches) other Churches afterward did borrow the Faith delivered, and the seeds of doctrine. 2. That Religion was thus setled chiefly, and indeed only by Tradition, the books of Scri∣pture having been written only occasionally, and though they comprehend in generall the principall points of Christianity, yet it is very

briefly, obscurely, with seeming contradictions, and dispersedly; whereupon it is that they do of∣ten refer us to the profession and practise of the church. Hence in evidence of reason it will follow, that he that would inform himself of Christian Religion, must have recourse thither where it ••a's been d••posited, and that not simply in words, but withall the sense of those words, and the very life of them in practise; and this depositary is by all acknowledged more or less, to be the Catholike church: For even those, who make it a part of their Religion to oppose the authority of the Catholike church, yet acknow∣ledge that they have received the Scripture (that is, all the Religion which they have) from her and her authority.

3. Hence it will follow, that that man that should either look for Christian religion where it is not, or expect to find it entire where there was no intention to include it in its whole lati∣tude, or hope to ••ssure himself of the clear sense of it, where it is set down often obscurely, almost every where obnoxious to variety of in∣terpretations, would certainly not follow the conduct of his reason.

4. Notwithstanding, if the imputation of un∣reasonableness were the only effect of such an indiscreet way of information, there is no proud man (and pride, or impatience to submit to au∣thority is the root of all heresie and Schism) but would easily perswade himself to despise such an imputation; yea he would take a pleasure in op∣posing himself and his own reason single, not only to one, but many ages of men, that should

it more reasonable to relye upon authority for that, which cannot be believed, but upon the on∣ly motive of authority. There is therefore ano∣ther effect far more considerable, then point of reputation, which is the utmost danger of e∣ternall perdition in renouncing one main do∣ctrinall foundation of Christian Faith, which is the authority of the one, holy, Catholique Church of Christ: which authority consists not only in delivering books of Scripture, or Traditionary doctrines, but in obliging all men to unity, both in f••ith and love, which is im∣possible to be had, except all men be obliged to the sense and interpretation which she propo∣seth, as received from her by the same autho∣rity from which she received the books or do∣ctrines themselves.

5. A doctrine this is the most expresse in Scriptures, the most constantly asserted by Fa∣thers, the only businesse of all Councells, the most freely without any contradiction embra∣ced by all Christians before these times, (ex∣cepting only those, whom even the Sectaries of these times will call Heretiques or Schisma∣tikes) and in these times by all that enjoy the name of Catholikes. In a word, a doctrine this is beyond all other traditionary doctrines pro∣pagated from the Apostles to these times, with the fullest universall consent of all Catholikes in all places, and of all times, of any one point in Christian Religion, or any one book of Scripture.

6. Among proofs out of Scripture, we will begin with the Old Testament (concerning

which S. Augustine (in Psal. 3. ch. 2.) professeth that the Prophets foretold more often, & more plainly of the Catholike Church then of Christ himself, and the reason, he sayes, was because many Heretiques would arise that would per∣haps spare the person of Christ, but none could be a heretike without withdrawing himselfe from the authority and unity of the Church. Now the particular Texts which especially S. Augustine makes use of to assert the churches Authority are these, In the last days the moun∣tain of the Lord shall be on the top of all mountains, and all hills shall flow unto her. And she shall judge every tongue that resists her in judgement. And, Kings shall walk in the light of the Church, and people in the splendour of her East. Again, That every Kingdome and Nation which doth not serve her shall perish. (Isa. c. 2. 54. and 60.) That of the Kingly Prophet David, Glorious things are spoken of thee, thou City of God. That of the Canticles, Thou art faire, and there is no spot in thee. And that of the Prophet Ezechi∣el, Thou shalt no more be called forsaken, Psa. 86. Cant. 4. Ezech. 37.

7. Proofs out of the New Testament are, Behold I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world, Mat. 8. upon which S. Augustine in Psa. 70. & 10. thus infers, The Church shall be here unto the end of the world. For if it shall not be here unto the end of the world, to whom was it that our Lord said, Behold I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world? And what was the reason that it was necessa∣ry

that there should be such speeches in the Scripture? Because there would in times to come arise enemies of the Christian Faith, which would say, Christians will continue for a certain space, after that they will vanish, and Idoll•• shall return, that shall return which was before.) Again Mat. 6. Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; And again, Joh. 14. The Spirit of truth shall remain with you for ever. And again, Let both grow together unto the harvest. And againe, Mat. 18. If any man will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as a Heathen and a Publi∣can. (Upon which S. Augustine (lib. 5. de Bapt.) thus descants, the which house likewise hath received the keyes, and a power of loosing and binding. Whosoever shall contemne this house, reproving and correcting him, let him, saith he, be unto thee as a Heathen and a Pub∣lican.) And lastly, The Church, which is the pillar and ground of truth. 1 Tim. 4.