A papist mis-represented and represented, or, A twofold character of popery the one containing a sum of the superstitions, idolatries, cruelties, treacheries, and wicked principles of the popery which hath disturb'd this nation above an hundred and fifty years, fill'd it with fears and jealousies, and deserves the hatred of all good Christians : the other laying open that popery which the papists own and profess, with the chief articles of their faith, and some of the principle grounds and reasons, which hold them in that religion / by J.L. one of the Church of Rome ; to which is added, a book entituled, The doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome, truly represented, in answer to the aforesaid book by a Prote

XIV. Of the Interpretation of Scripture.

1. THE Question is not, Whether Men are not bound to make use of the best means for the right Interpretation of Scripture, by Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Advice, a hum∣ble and teachable Temper, &c. i. e. all the proper means fit for such an end? but whether after all these, there be a neces∣sity of submitting to some infallible Judge, in order to the at∣taining the certain Sense of Scripture?

2. The Question is not, Whether we ought not to have a mighty regard to the Sense of the whole Christian Church in all Ages since the Apostles, which we profess to have; but, Whether the present Roman Church, as it stands divided from other Communions, hath such a Right and Authority to inter∣pret Scripture, that we are bound to believe that to be the in∣fallible Sense of Scripture which she delivers?

And here I cannot but take notice how strangely this matter is here misrepresented: for the Case is put,

1. As if every one who rejects their pretence of Infallibility, had nothing to guide him but his own private Fancy in the Interpretation of Scripture.

2. As if we rejected the Sense put upon Scripture by the whole Community of Christians in all ages since the Apostles times. Where∣as we appeal, in the matters in difference between us, to this universal Sense of the Christian Church, and are verily per∣swaded they cannot make it out in any one Point wherein we differ from them. And themselves cannot deny, that in several we have plainly the Consent of the first Ages, as far as appears by the Books remaining, on our side; as in the Worship of Images, Invocation of Saints, Papal Supremacy, Communion

in both kinds, Prayer and Scripture in known Tongues; and I may safely add, the Sufficiency of the Scripture, Transubstan∣tiation, Auricular Confession, Publick Communions, Solitary Masses, to name no more.

But here lies the Artifice; We must not pretend to be ca∣pable of judging either of Scripture, or Tradition; but we must trust their Judgment what is the Sense of Scripture, and what hath been the Practice of the Church in all Ages, al∣though their own Writers confess the contrary: which is ve∣ry hard.

But he seems to argue for such a Submission to the Church;

1.Because we receive the Book of Scripture from her; there∣fore from her we are to receive the Sense of the Book. An admi∣rable Argument! We receive the Old Testament from the Iews; therefore from them we are to receive the Sense of the Old Testament, and so we are to reject the true Messias. But this is not all: If by the Church, they mean the Church of Rome in distinction from others, we deny it: if they mean the whole Christian Church, we grant it: but then the force of it is quite lost. But why is it not possible for the Church of Rome to keep these Writings, and deliver them to others, which make against her self? Do not Persons in Law-Suits often produce Deeds which make against them? But there is yet a further Reason; it was not possible for the Church of Rome to make away these Writings, being so universally spread.

2. Because the Church puts the difference between true and false Books, therefore that must be trusted for the true Sense of them. Which is just as one should argue, The Clerks of the Rolls are to give an account to the Court of true Records, therefore they are to sit on the Bench, and to give Judgment in all Causes. The Church is only to declare what it finds as to Canonical Books; but hath no Power to make any Book Canonical, which was not before received for such. But I confess Stapleton saith, the Church if it please may make Hermes his Pastor and Cle∣mens his Constitutions Canonical: but I do not think our Au∣thor will therein follow him.

Notes

• Conti••v. 5. Qu. 4. art. 2.