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. X.

In what sense the Jesuites may truly deny they believe the words of man better then the words of God: In what sense again our writers truly charge them with this blasphemy.

1 IF we review the former discourse, we may find, that equivocation, which Bellarmin sought (as a knot in a bulrush) in our writers objections, to be directly contained in their Churches denial of what was objected. Whilest they deny that, they exalt the Churches authority above Scriptures, or mans word above Gods; this denial may have a double sence. They may deny a plain and open profession, or challenge of greater authority in their Church then in Scriptures: Or they may deny, that in effect and substance they over∣throw all authority of Scripture, save only so far as it makes for their pur∣pose.

2 That the Pope should openly professe himself competitor with God, or, in expresse tearms, challenge greater authority then Scriptures have: was never objected by any of our writers. For all of us know, the Man of Sin must be no open, or outward enemy to the Church, but Judas-like, a dis∣ciple by profession: his doctrine, indeed, must be a doctrine of devils, yet counterseiting the voice of Angels; as he himself, though by internal disposi∣tion of mind a slave to all manner of filthinesse, and impurity, must be en∣stiled Sanctissimus Dominus, the most holy Lord. If the poison of his iniqui∣ty were not wrapt up in the titles of divine mysteries, it would forth-with be disliked by many silly superstitious souls, which daily suck their bane from it, because perswaded that the Scriptures (which they never have examined, whose true sense they never tasted, but from some reliques of heathenish zeal, idolatrously worship in gross) do fully warrant it. When our Writers therfore object, that the Papists exalt the Popes laws above Gods; (had not these holy Catholicks an especial grace to grow deaf, as often as we charge their mother with such notorious and known whoredomes, as they see might evi∣dently be proved unto the world, if they should stand to contest with us) their meaning is plain; that the Pope, in deed, and issue, makes the Scri∣ptures, (which in shew he seems to reverence) of no authority, but only with reference to his own. That he, and his followers should in words much mag∣nifie Gods word, written or unwritten, we do not marvel; because the high∣er esteem men make of it, the higher still he may exalt his throne, being abso∣lutely enabled, by this device, to make all that belongs to God, his Word, his Laws, his Sacraments, the pretious Body and Bloud of his Son, blessed for ever, meer foot-stools to his ambition. For, if the authority of Scriptures, or such traditions as he pretends, be established as divine, and he admitted, sole, absolute, infallible Judge of their meaning; it would argue either An∣tichristian blindnesse not to see or impudency of no meaner stock, not to ac∣knowledg that the Pope by this mean might appropriate unto himself the ho∣nour due unto God, & play upon his Creator in such sort, as if a corrupt Law∣yer having evidences committed to his trust, should by vertue of them take up rents, and let leases to the Land-lords dammage, and Tenants overthrow. And (what is most villanous) unto whatsoever prerogatives, though most pre∣judicial to the divine majesty; his Parasitical Canonists shal blasphemously entitle this most holy Father, The Son of God, and his faithfullest servants, (Apostles or Prophets) must be brought forth to abet the forgery, as if

evidence given in Court by infamous Knights of the Post, should in the final day of hearing be produced, under the hands and seals of free Barons, or other chief Peers of the Land; for, as was intimated before, whatsoever the Pope, though in his own cause, shall say, it must by this doctrine, be supposed, that Christ doth say the same. Yea, if it should please his Holiness to avoach ex Cathedra, that these words, Thou art a Priest for ever after the or∣der of Melechisedech, are truly and literally meant of himself as Christs Vi••ar▪ or of perpetual succession in Peters Chair: the evidence must be taken as up∣on the Almighties oath; who in that place hath sworn as much as these words import; but what that is the Pope must judge. That then he permits Christ the title of his soveraign Lord, and urges others to subscribe unto his laws as most divine, is just, as if some Polititian should solicit the whole body of a kingdom, solemnly to acknowledge one, othewise lawful heir unto the Crown, for their Monarch most omnipotent and absolute, (whose wil once signified must be a law for ever inviolable, to all his subjects) not with intent that he should in person retain such perpetual soveraignty over them, but that he might have absolute power to dispose of his kingdom, as he pleased unto the worlds end; or to nominate others, as absolute in his place, whilest he spent his dayes as a sojourner in a forrain land. Finally, not the most trea∣cherous and detestable plot, the most wicked Pope that hath been, is or shall be, could desire to effect, but may by this device be countenanced, with as great and sacred authority, as were the best actions our Saviour ever under∣took: which (as may better appear from what shall be said in the next Se∣ction) is to make every Popes authority as much greater then our Saviours, as their lives and actions are worse then his was.

3 Suppose some Devil should possesse the Popes place in similitude of a man, (as some Papists think the great Antichrist, who shall challenge as great authority as the Pope doth, shall be a Devil incarnate, or the son of a De∣vil) might he not hold his dignity by the same plea the Jesuites make for their Lord and Master? Could he not be content to pretend Christs name, or succession from S. Peter, (as Simon Magus, might he have obtained what he desired, would have done) for his own advantage? could he not urge the authority of Gods word to confirm his own over it, and all that is called Gods? If in such a case it might not be permitted men to examin his allegations out of Scriptures, how could the devil himself be convinced by Scriptures, or deposed from his supremacy, thence pretended? And can we doubt, whether he which makes no other plea, then the Devil were he in place might, is not that Filius Diaboli, The great Antichrist? Were we not taught that the sons of this world are wise only in their own ge∣neration, we might justly wonder that any men indued with natural wit, could be so blind, as at the first sight not to descrie the politick Sophisins used by the Romanist to cozen Christ of his kingdom. As their whole Religion is but the image of the old Roman policy; so their main plot of Templum Domini, Templum Domini, the Church, the Church, as if all were rebels against Christ, that wil not swear absolute fealty to the Church Romish, may be most fully paralleled by the like practise of such cunning States-men, as ha∣ving alwayes one eye to the advancement of their own private fortunes, live under an absolute Monarch, of himself royally minded, but not much inter∣medling in the affairs of greatest moment. Opportunity of high place under a king, upon what occasion soever thus sequestred, that poor mens complaints cannot possesse his ears, tempts politicians to effect their own purposes, under pretence of his right, and to condemn all of treason or disroyalty, that will

not obey their designs directed in their Soveraigns name, though most abhorrent from the disposition of his Royal heart, were he acquainted with such lamentable grievances of his poor Subjects, as are the usual consequents of Princes graci∣ous Favours upon great Ones. The more absolute such a Princes lawful autho∣rity, the greater is native subjects love unto him is, the more, may both be abused by such unthankful officers. As it is the Soveraign conceit all men have of Christs kingdom, which keeps the silly in such servility unto the Pope, his pretended agent.

4 This is the only difference in these two cases otherwise most like. An earthly Prince may live and die deluded of his Machiavillian States men, over whom he hath no power, after he himself is once subject. But Christ lives and reigns a King for ever; and though his throne be in the highest heavens, beholds the things done on earth. He sees, and yet suf∣fereth his pretended officers to detain such as love darknesse more then light, in grossest ignorance and blind subjection to the Prince of darke∣nesse, and his associates; he sees and yet suffers them detain all such as delight in lies more then in truth, from acquaintance with his Holy spirit; He sees, and yet suffers their foulest villanies to be countenanced by his sa∣cred laws; he sees, and yet suffers his holy name to be abused, to the esta∣blishing of Antichristian Heresies; he sees and yet suffers his glory made a stale for maintenance of their secular pomp. He is the keeper of Israel, and cannot so slumber, as any abuse should escape his notice; his indignation shall not sleep for ever, but in due time he wil rouse himself as a Lion awa∣ked, to take vengeance upon all the workers of iniquity, on them above others, who have thus usurped his throne on earth, taking that judgement during the time of his supposed absence wholly into their hands, which be∣lo•…•…nly unto him: Even so come Lord Jesu, Holy, and True, and with the breath of thy mouth destroy him that hath destroyed truth and sincerity from amongst the Sons of men.

Notes

• Antichrst must not be a professed or o∣pen enemy but a secret under∣miner of true Religion.
• The Pope and his followers have good rea∣son to magnifie Christs autho∣rity in words or outward shew, for their own gain and glory could not otherwise be so great.
• Chap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 21.
• The same plea the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ma•…•… the Poper absolute •…•… ••im 〈◊〉〈◊〉 might use with as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, •…•… in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place.