Roman-Catholick doctrines no novelties, or, An answer to Dr. Pierce's court-sermon, miscall'd The primitive rule of Reformation by S.C. a Roman-Catholick.

CHAP. II. (Book 2)

• Eleven Novelties charged on Catho∣lics.
• Schism imputed to Catholics.
• Why necessary the Sermon should be refuted by Catholics.
• The Answerers protestation of since∣rity.

1. THe Doctours Sermon, for as much as concerns us Roman Catholicks, pre∣tends a double Design. First, Confidently enough to assert that the Doctrines in which we differ are on our parts meer Novelties, and that Primitive Antiquity both of Scripture and the four first General Councils stands clearly for Protestants. Secondly, In consequence to this, that not they, but the Roman Church a∣lone is guilty of Schism.

2. As to the first Part he exemplyfies in these following Points of Catholick Doctrine, which he saies are Novelties, and undertakes to calculate the precise time of their Nativi∣ty 1. The Supremacy of the Pope. 2. The

infallibility of the Church. 3. Purgatory. 4. Transubstantiation. 5. The Sacrifice of the Masse. 6. Communion under one Species. 7. Worship of Images. 8. The Scriptures and publick Divine Service in an unknown Tongue. 9. Invocation of Saints. 10. The forbidding Mariage to Persons in holy Orders. 11. The allowing Divorce for other causes besides Forni∣cation.

3. Then concerning the other part of his general Design about Schism, he acknow∣ledges that a real Schism there is, but that the cause of it came from the Roman Church, which made erroneous Novelties, new Articles of their Creed, which errours the Reformers were oblig'd in conscience to reject, and re∣ject them they did by warrantable and legal Authority: So that though they separated from the then present visible Church▪ yet they ought not to be called Schismatics, but that Church is to be esteemed Schismatical, which caused them to separate.

4. This is in grosse the substance of what in his Sermon he alledges against Her, that heretofore was this Churches Mother, and a great proportion of whose kindnesse she still enjoyes, the Roman Catholick Church. Now considering with what triumphing applauses this Sermon was heard, and with what a ge∣neral greedinesse thousands of the printed Copies have been bought up, even by those that formerly have not been curiously inqui∣sitive

after Court Sermons for any good they meant the Preachers. Would not Protestants themselves in their hearts condemn Roman Catholicks, if, being confidently perswaded, (as truly for my part I am) that there is not so much as one single allegation among all his replenish'd Margins that reaches home to a concluding proof of what he pretends to, they should out of a treacherous fearfulnesse be utterly silent, as acknowledging that now they have a prostrated cause. And there∣fore if it be but onely out of fear of losing their good opinion, somthing must be said by us to acquaint him with his mistakes.

5. Now in my Remarks upon this Sermon, I will follow his own order before summari∣ly set down: And both in the Points of Do∣ctrine and Schism I will select his Arguments, adjoining to each Point respectively▪ the Quotations or Authorities of Fathers related to in the Margins: And having done this, I will sincerely discover the grounds upon which I think I can Demonstrate, That he has neither rationally concluded any of our Catholick Doctrines to have been Novelties, nor freed his own Church from the just imputati∣on of Schism.

6. And, knowing very well what candor, sincerity and charity Almighty God requires from those who undertake his cause, and the cause of his Church; I do here call Him as a witnesse upon my Soul, that my purpose is

studiously to avoid all cavilling distorsions either of Texts of Scriptures, or the holy Fathers, and much more those falsly called pia•• fraudes, corruptions of either: And both in my Answers and Objections, I will alledge no∣thing but what I am perswaded is both per∣tinent and efficacious to conclude that for which it is produced, that is, I will bring no∣thing as a proof, which I for the present think can be answered.

7. I am inform'd that he in his Sermon made the like Protestation. If he did, I am very glad for his own sake, that he forbore to print, what he then spoke: because though I must not charge him with wilful sincerity, yet I believe he will find by this short Paper, that he did neglect to make use of his best judge∣ment and caution, which certainly, if ever, was most requisite, in a cause so important, especially it being to be debated by one that professed to supply the place of God himself in his own House, and who spoke to no mean∣er Person than the KING, God's own Vice∣••erent.

8. But whether the Preacher in his Ser∣mon, the subject whereof was nothing but Controversies, and such as his Text neither invited, much lesse compelled ••im to under∣take, or however to debate them with such Invectives and exulcerating digressions whe∣ther I say, herein he expressed that respect and duty he owed his Majesty, that is, whether

such a distemper'd Sermon was conformable to the Injunctions touching Preaching, which his Majesty had lately commanded my Lord Archbishop to communicate to the Clergy, I leave to the Preachers own Conscience. If he resolved to transgresse those Orders so be∣comming a Prince who lov'd the peace of his Kingdoms, and still feels so much by their dis∣unions in Opinions: yet in reason he might have abstained from letting the Court and Kingdom see, that he had the courage to dis∣obey the King to his own face: The Univer∣sity-••ulpit, or some City Congregations, where such behaviour is in fashion, might well enough have contented him.