A collection of the works of that holy man and profound divine, Thomas Iackson ... containing his comments upon the Apostles Creed, &c. : with the life of the author and an index annexed.

CAP. VI.

Propounding what possibly can be said on our adversaries behalf for avoiding the force of the former arguments: and shewing withal the special points that lie upon them to prove, as principally, whether their Belief of the Churches authority can be resolved into any divine Testimony.

1 UNto all the difficulties hitherto proposed, I can rather wish some learn∣ed Priest or Jesuite would, then hope any such ever wil directly an∣swer point by point. For the Readers better satisfaction I wil first briefly set down, what possibly can be said on their behalf and, after a disclosure of their last secret refuge, draw forth thence the dead and putrified darknesse of Ro∣mish faith; which unto the ignorant and superstitious, that cannot uncover the holes and clefts wherein these impostors upon every search are wont to hide it, may yet seem to live and breath; as the Fable went of S. John the Evangelists body, after many years reposal in the grave; or as the blinded Jews to this day brag, the scepter of Judah yet flourisheth, beyond Babylon in Media, or some unknown part of India, whither no European is likely to re∣sort for a disproval of his relation.

2 Unto the Demonstrative Evidences as wel of their error in expound∣ing Scriptures pretended for, as of other Scriptures rightly alledged by us a∣gainst their former or like Decrees, they wil be ready to oppose what Bellar∣min hath † 1.1 done, That the Church must judge of Scriptures Evidence, and pri∣vate errours in expounding it, not private men of the Churches expositions. Un∣to the objected dreadful consequences of their decrees, (could these possibly be erroneous) they would regest disobedience to the Church; that to dis∣obey it, is to disobey God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, a sin as hainous as mangling of Christs Last Will and Testament, as Idolatry. On the contrary, to obey the Church even in her negative decrees and naked decisions, unguar∣ded with any pretence of Scripture, (much more where this loving Mother, for the education of her children wil vouchsafe, what she need not, to al∣ledge some clause or sentence of Holy writ) we obey not the Church only but Gods Word also, though not in those particular places, which in our judgements either contradict the former, or like decrees, or else make no∣thing at all for them; yet in texts produced for the Churches transcendent general authority. As he that adores the consecrated host in procession, be∣cause his holy Mother commands him so to do, or accounts want of Christs bloud no losse, because denied him by her authority; although unto private spirits he may seem to contradict that Law, ‖ 1.2 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve: doth yet sincerely obey the Holy Ghost, and rightly observe the true sence and meaning of these his dictates, Peter I have prayed for thee, that thy faith should not fail. Peter feed my sheep. Thou art * 1.3 Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church. From these places once firmly believing the Church possibly cannot erre, he must not question, whether the the practises by it injoyned contradict the former laws both being delivered by the holy spirit, who cannot contradict himself. This I take it, is the sum of all the most learned of our adversaries can or would reply unto the former difficulties.

Not to draw faster, but rather remitting the * 1.4 former Bonds, wherein they have inextricably intangled themselves, by their circular progresse in their resolution of faith; admit their late doctrine left any possibility of

knowing Scriptures, acknowledged by both to be Gods word, or of distin∣guishing humane testimonies (written or unwritten) from divine: The pre∣sent question we may draw (with their free consent) unto this issue; whe∣ther their belief of the Churches infallible authority, undoubtedly established, as they pretend, in the fore-cited places, can be truly resolved into any branch of the First Truth, or into humane testimonies only. If into the later only, the case is clear, that absolutely obeying the Romish Church, in the former or like decrees, (which her authority set aside) to all or most mens conscien∣ces would seem to contradict Gods principal laws; we believe, and in belie∣ving obey, men more then God; humane authorities, laws, or testimonies, more then divine.

4 The strength or feeblenesse of Roman faith wil best appear, if we try it in any one of these joynts. Whether by Divine testimony it can be proved, that S. Peter had such an universal, infallible, absolute authority, as these men attribute unto the Pope: Whether by like infallible testimony it can be proved, the Popes from time to time, without exception, were Peters un∣doubted successours, heirs apparant to all the preheminencies, or preroga∣tives he injoyed: Whether either the soveraignty or universality of their au∣thority, (supposed probable in it self, or to themselves;) or particular in∣junctions derived from it, can be so fully notified to all Christians, as they need not question, whether in yielding obedience to decrees, of like conse∣quences as were the former, they do not grievously disobey Gods Word. For though the Popes themselves might know this truth by Divine revela∣tion, or otherwise, their internal assurance, unlesse generally communicable by divine testimonies, could be no warant unto others, for undertaking mat∣ters of fearful consequences, whereof they doubt, not only out of secret in∣stinct or grudging of their consciences, but from an apprehension of opposi∣tion betwixt the very forms of laws papal, and divine.

5 First, it is improbable, that he to whom our Saviour said; If thy brother trespasse * 1.5 against thee, dic Ecclesiae, was the * 1.6 Church un∣to which all must, from which none may ap∣peal: Or, if Peter, the Pope if he wil be Pe∣ters successor, must, in cases of controversie, appeal unto the Church. How is he then, as our adversaries contend, the Church, or such a part of it, unto whom all, even Peter him∣self (were he alive) must appeal? Must others appeal to him, as Judge, in his own cause? or he unto himself alone? Not as alone, but (so a late Papists, to my remembrance, answers Gerson) as accompanied with his fellow Consul, his Chaire, which is to him, as Caesar was to Julius: and so shal Gods word be to both; as Bibulus was to Julius Caesar, a meer pretence, or bare name of authority, nothing else. Yet if that word avouch, that neither S. Peters, or his successors Faith, could ever fail in determining controversies, we contradict it, not the Popes decisions only, if we do not in all doubtful doctrines fully rely upon them.

Notes

• † 1.1

  L. 3 c. 10.
• ‖ 1.2

  Deut. 6. 13.
• * 1.3

  Luke 4. 8.
• * 1.4

  Vide Lib. 2. Cap. 30.
• * 1.5

  Peter was not the Church. Mat. 18. 17.
• * 1.6

  Bell. lib. 2. de Pont. Rom. cap. 12. Quae dicuntur Petro, ut uni ex fidelibus, certè omnibus fidelibus dicta in∣telliguntur: ut Mat. 18. Si peccaverit in te frater tuus, &c By this reason then the Pope must appeal to the Church; who then are meant by the Church? Respon∣demus (saith Bellarmin) illud Dic Ecclesiae, significare, deser ad publicum Ecclesiae judicium, id est, ad eos, qui publicam personam in Ecclesia gerunt. Bellar. lib. 1 de Pontis. Rom. cap. 6. So that if any man offend the Pope, the cause must come to be decided, by himself, as a publick person.