make nor continue Schisms, and that Separation which they make, they do it
for very great causes. And he saith, No Reformation can be made so important
by them who divide upon light causes, as is the mischief of the Schism they make,
but this hinders not but that the Protestants Reformation, or correption
(which is Irenaeus his word) is so necessary, that it countervails the evil of the
Schism consequent. I add, the words of Irenaeus [the spiritual man who is a
Disciple of Christ will judge all them who are out of the truth] do justifie the
Protestants in judging the Popes and Popish Doctors, and Churches as Schisma∣ticks
and Hereticks, who by their Doctrine of Popes Supremacy, Invocation of
Saints, humane Satisfactions, inherent Justice justifying, Merit of Condignity,
have departed from the Apostolical Faith, and by their cruel tyranny and ha∣tred
of Reformation have the most horrible and pernicious Schism that ever
was in the Church of God, and the Protestants are warranted thus to judge by
the holy Scripture.
The words of Cyprian de unit. Eccles. in the third Age against the Nova∣tians
of the inexpiableness of their crime of Schism, that it could not be pur∣ged
by suffering for Christ, nor they be Martyrs, though they died for the Con∣fession
of his Name, is too heavy a censure, yet if it were true is nothing against
Protestants, who are not guilty of that Schism.
The words of Chrysostom hom. 11. in Ephes. shew how grievous an evil
Schism is, but prove not, that they are all Schismaticks, that separate from the
Roman Bishop and Church, nor that the Protestants are guilty thereof, or the
Romanists free.
The words of Optatus lib. 2. are not to any of the points now in contro∣versie
except he mean by the unity of the Episcopal Chair holding communion
with the Bishop of Rome, and assert that to be the one Episcopal Chair to
which all other are to be subject: which if so meant, the words are not true;
if meant as Cyprian meant, that there is one Bishoprick of which each Bishop
holds a part intirely, in respect of unity of Doctrine, the speech is good, but
not against Protestants, who hold the unity of that Episcopal Chair.
The words of Augustine lib. 4. de Symb. fidei ad Catech. cap. 10. if they
were true, yet are they nothing to the purpose, unless it were said, that by the
holy Church he meant the Church of Rome, or that he who is found out of the
Church of Rome is a stranger from the number of sons, that he hath not God
for his Father, nor will have the Church for his Mother, none of which are
said by him. It is true, there are these words in Austin's second Exposition on
Psalm 21. with us 22. ver. 18. He who hath charity is secure or safe. No man
moveth it out of the Catholick Church. But these words are not against Pro∣testants,
but against Papists, who move it out of the Catholick Church, and
confine it to the Roman, and most uncharitably damn them, who are not of
their party, therein following the Donatists, whom Austin there condemns,
who confined the Church to the part of Donatus in Africa. And there is an∣other
passage in the same Exposition which doth justifie the Protestants and
condemn the Papists in the main point of controversie between us, what shall
determine controversies between us, they say the Church, when the great con∣trovesie
is which is the Church, we say the Scripture, and so doth Augustine in
these words. The Testament of our Father (that is, the Scriptures, as the words
a little before shew) is come out of any hole, I know not what Thieves would