I. Question: Why are you a Catholic? The answer follows. II. Question: But why are you a Protestant? An answer attempted (in vain) / written by the Reverend Father S.C. Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict ...

§. 23.

They were no sooner separated, but they heaped on the Church all the most despightful reproaches and Calumnies they could invent, and to heighten their Criminal Schism to the uttermost, they formed New Societies which they called Churches, and therein esta∣blished New Pastors, and a New Ecclesiastical Ministry: (the very Sin for which God commanded the Earth to swallow Core, Dathan and Abiron.) Amongst the Gifts which our Lord when he led captivity captive, received from his Father, and bestowed on his Church, the principal Gift mentioned by St. Paul, was his constituting therein A∣postles, Pastors, and Teachers to continue to the end of the world by a legitimate Succession. There is not the least intimation given in Scripture or Tradition, that this Succession should ever be interrupted: Yet as if it had quite ceased and been annulled, these Reformers, without any Warrant, usurp a Power to take all Authority out of the hands of those to whom our Saviour had given it, and to bestow it according to their own pleasure, thus making a total reversement of the whole frame of Gods Church (as far as lyes in their Power) through the whole World. If Christ himself had thus, without testi∣fying his Authority by Miracles, dealt with the Iewish Synagogue, he would not have expected belief, nor been able to answer that Questi∣on proposed to Him, By what authority dost thou these things, and who gave thee this Authority? Luke. 20. 2. Yet all this our late Reformers have done without ever pretending to one Miracle. Into whatever place they come through the whole earth, they, as far as their Secu∣lar power extends, degrade and chase away all Bishops, Priests and

Pastors, professing the Catholic Religion, they take Authority to de∣fame them as false Pastors, and true Wolves; they denounce Anathe∣mas against them, they incite their Subjects to rebel, defraud and persecute them, as if God had given his iron Rod into the hands of these Gladiators, and conferred on them the ends of the earth for their inheritance.

No man takes his Power of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction but he that is called, as was Aaron. Heb. 5. 4. Who called these men to the Office of Preaching and governing Christians? Who invested them with such Authority? If we consult their own Stories, we shall find the prime Ministers in the principal Cities of France, constituted and consecra∣ted by hands of the basest sort of Tradesmen. There have not been nor even now are wanting among them several sensual Priests, (once they had a Bishop) Apostates from the Catholic Church, whom they might employ in the Office of Preaching and Praying in their Synago∣gues, and by that means make a shew, that some of their Ministers were indeed Clergymen, who had an ordinary Vocation. But such ha∣tred they bear to all Ecclesiastical Order, that even these shall not be admitted into the Presbytery without renouncing their former ordinary Vocation, and receiving their Commission, by a New imposition of hands of Lay-Ministers. In a word, I should weary both you and my self, if I should enumerate all the enormities of your first Reformation. If you have a mind, you may receive sufficient information in a late Book written in French, the Title whereof is (in English) Legitimate Prejudgments against Calvinists; in which the* 1.1 learned Author demonstrates by several titles, as by what appeared exteriourly in the life of the first Reformers by want of Mission; by the evidence of their being guilty of Schism; by their temerity most prodigious in their presumption to establish a New Ecclesiastical Ministry; by the Spirit of calumny and injustice which generally actuates them; by their peculiar most monstrous Doctrines taught by them; by their ridiculously impossible way of instructing their Disciples in Christian verities, &c. By these Marks I say he shews that they do not deserve to be admitted to an examina∣tion of their Pretended Reform'd Religion, being manifestly prejudged and self condemned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prejugez. con. les Cal∣vinists