Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

Confuted by their owne Bible.

First, we find in it the Churches defection foretold by Moses, Deut. 31. 16. This people (meaning Israel the Church of God then) will fornicate after strange gods, forsake me, &c. Foretold by the Prophet Azariah, 2. Chron. 15. 2. Many dayes shall passe in Israel without the true God, without Priest, a Teacher, and without the Law. Foretold by Saint Paul, 2. Thes. 2. 2, 12. where he speakes of a reuolt, and such a reuolt, as thereby the Man of sinne gets vp to seate himselfe in the Temple of God, drawing to him such as haue not a loue of the truth. Foretold by Saint Peter, 2. Pet. 2. 1. In you, lying Masters, which shall bring in sects of perdition. By Saint Iohn in his Reuelation, where the Church is foreshewed to proue a bloody Whore, Chap. 17. Now what is foretold, certainely doth, or shall come to passe. Therefore the Church may erre.

Secondly, wee find in their owne Bible, that the Prophets in

old time found the Church guiltie, not onely of morall crimes, but also of errors in doctrine, Esay 48. 4, 5, 8. and in Ezech. 16. 15, 35. where she is set out as a lewd Strumpet. And in Chap. 20. 8. raxed for idolatrie aforetime. The Prophecie of Ieremie condemneth the Church in his time for many abominations committed in Ierusalem, and in Egypt. Our Sauiour found the Church at his comming corrupted with false doctrine, the lea∣uen of the Scribes and Pharises; warning his Disciples to take heed thereof, Mat. 16. 6, 12. How the Churches of Galatia did erre, and were bewitched, Saint Paul telleth vs, Gal. 1. and 3. and 4. And the Churches in Asia, as Pergamus, and Thyatira are taxed, and found fault with, Reuel. 2.

Thirdly, we find in their Bible by the historie thereof, that the Church hath erred euen from the very beginning.

I. In Paradise our first Parents, the first Church that euer God had, and the most perfect for knowledge, holinesse and righteousnesse; yet this Church erred, and fell fearefully; in ad∣ding to Gods Word, in taking from it, and in beleeuing the de∣uill before God. What Church is it then, which may not erre?

II. After their casting out of Paradise, till the Flood, the Church, that is, the sonnes of God, went vnto the daughters of men, by which mixture the whole earth became corrupted, Gen. 6. which error in fact came out of a dogmaticall error in iudgement.

III. From the Flood to Abraham; in which space we reade of open rebellion against God, Gen. 11. and that there was ido∣latrie committed in the Church by Thare and Nachor in Meso∣potamia, from amongst whom Abraham was called out, Iosh. 24. 2, 14.

IV. From Abrahams comming into Canaan, till Israels comming out of Egypt. In this space idolatrie was crept into the Church; into Iacobs Family, Gen. 35. 2. And Israel is taxed for committing idolatry in Egypt, Iosh. 24. 14. and for being obstinate therein, Ezech. 20. 8. and 16. 15, 35. and 23. 8.

V. In Israels going into Canaan, during their aboade in the Wildernesse; they erred in heart alwaies, they knew not the

Lords wayes, but mightily prouoked him, Psal. 94. 9, 10, 11. and they committed horrible idolatry, both Aaron the chiefe Priest, the Heads of the people, besides the rest, Exod. 32. 4, 5, 8, 31. They were a peruerse generation, of which reade Psal. 77. 8. 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 36, 40, 41, 56, 57. the whole Psalme sheweth, that they greatly erred.

VI. In Canaan in the dayes of the Iudges, how often fell they into horrible idolatry, seruing other gods, and doing what liked themselues, Iudg. 2. 10, 11, 12, 13. and 5. 8. and 6. 25, 26. and 8. 33. and 9. 4. 27. and 10. 6. and 21. 25. In Ely his time was a miserable state of the Church and Religion, 1. Sam. 2. In Sauls time men did not seeke to the Arke of God, 1. Chron. 13. 3.

VII. From Salomons reigne, to the captiuitie, were great abominations. Salomon set vp, or fauoured in others the setting vp of idolatrie, the remainders whereof continued vnto Iosiah his dayes. The ten Tribes fell to idolatrie, and neuer returned. Iudah often committed great wickednesse, as in the dayes of Rehoboam, Iehoram, Amaziah, Ioas, Ahaz, Manasses, Amon, and other Kings, which succeeded godly Iosias; and the people are often complained of to haue done corruptly, and to haue sin∣ned against God, euen in good Kings daies, 2. Chron. 17. 2. and 33. 17. and 36. 14. for which God heauily plagued them, 2. Chr. 28. 6. For more euidence of the euils in this space, reade the Prophets, Esay 48. 45. and 56. 10, 11. Ier. 2. 27, 28. and 3. 1, 2. and 5. 31. and 6. 14. Ezech. 69, 11, 12, 15. Hosea 2. 2.

VIII. From thence to Christ: The Priests, as Malachi wit∣nesseth, had departed out of the way, and made voide the Coue∣nant, Mal. 2. 8. had despised and polluted his name, Mal. 1. 6, 12. they did not lay to heart his commandements, Mal. 2. 2. Iudah is accused to haue transgressed, and that abominations were done in Israel, and in Ierusalem, that they had contaminated the sanctification of the Lord, and had the daughter of a strange god, Mal. 2. 11. In the second of Machabees we may reade of horrible corruptions in the high Priests. Iason got the office by money brought his Country-men to the Heathen rites; the Priests were not occupied about the offices of the Altar, but the

Temple and Sacrifices were neglected, 2. Machab. 4. 7, 11, 14. And when our Sauiour was come, he found many sects, false Teachers corrupting the truth, Matth. 6. and 16. 6, 12. and 23. 16, 22. & was by the outward pretending domineering Church then in Councell condemned, and put to death. To conclude of the chiefe Rulers in this Church, the saying of Steuen, that they were stiffe-necked, and vncircumcised in heart and eares, alwaies resisting the holy Ghost, Act. 7. Who can reade these things, and thinke yet, that the Church cannot erre; if withall they would consider, how this Church of Israel had the most excel∣lent meanes for direction and confirmation?

I. They had the written Word, and ordinary Teachers, the Priests and Leuites daily instructing them, Deut. 33. 10. Acts 15. 21.

II. They had extraordinary teaching; 1. By God himselfe from Heauen, Exod. 20. By Vrim and Thummim, by Vision and Dreames. 2. By Prophets, Moses, Samuel, Eliah, Elisha, and very many moe. 3. By Kings endued with a Propheticall Spirit, as Dauid and Salomon. 4. At length, by Iesus Christ him∣selfe personally. 5. By the twelue Apostles, Mat. 10. 6. By the 70. disciples, Luk. 10. 1. Neuer such, nor so many in any Church, since God had a Church.

III. They had Miracles and wonders in bringing them out of Egypt, in the fearefull giuing of the Law, in carrying them thorow the Woldernesse, in planting them in Canaan, and in strange Miracles wrought in Eliah and Elisha's time, and in some of the Kings of Iudah. Christ confirmed his doctrine, and so did the Apostles and Disciples their teaching by Miracles, Luk. 10. 17. No Church vnder the Heauen had euer the like.

IV. They had great mercies and vnheard of deliuerances from their Enemies: from Pharaoh and his Host drowned in the Red Sea: from the Amalekites, discomfited by Moses pray∣er: from the innumerable multitude of Enemies, the Kings of Canaan, of Midian, Philistims, Syrians, Assyrians: from the Host of Sennacherib nine score thousand slaine by an Angell in one night, Kings thirtie two, besides Benhadad, with an infinite Hoste defeated, by onely 7000. and odde: Ionathan and his Ar∣mour-bearer

did terrifie an whole Campe: Gideon and three hundred men made an innumerable multitude to she away, and with a few other of Ephraim, did slay of them in one day one hundred and twenty thousand: Asa vanquished the Army of the Ethiopians, ten hundred thousand, besides three hundred Cha∣rets. Iehosaphat gathered the spoile of his enemies, three Kings comming with their Hosts against him, whom God set one a∣gainst another, to destroy vtterly one another for his safetie and enriching. What shall I speake of Hostes flying for feare with∣out any pursuing of them? For other blessings and mercies they are not to be numbred.

V. They had strange and most terrible punishments vpon them, to keep them in the feare of God, to make them to know him, and to walke in his waies: fire from Heauen deuouring vp some, the earth swallowing vp quicke other-some, the giuing of them often into the hands of Heathen Kings to oppresse them, that they might turne from Idolatry; yea, at length sent them all into captiuitie for 70. yeeres.

Thus we see, for Teachers, for Wonders and Miracles, for Mercies and Iudgements, none euer to be compared to them. Papists may fame Legends to parallel these; but these are truths, hauing witnesse from Gods Word it selfe. And yet this Church erred, and as Esay saith, chap. 48 4, 8. was stubborne, had a neck as an Iron sinew, and her forehead as brasse, and was a trans∣gressour from the wombe.

If the Papists make little account of these reasons, as nothing to keepe a Church from erring; yet is it much more then their Romish Church can say for her selfe. Let them say what they can for the Churches not erring, and we will see whether this Church of Israel cannot say the same also.

Will they pleade: 1. A Co∣uenant?	Israel had so, Deut. 29. 10, 15.
2 Or, a Couenant written in the heart?	So was it then, Ier. 31. 33. Esay 5. 7.
3. Or, a Couenant with their Priests?	So had the Priests then, Ier. 33. 20.

4. Or, that the Priests lips should preserue knowledge, and the people learne of them, and they teach the people?	So the verie same might Is∣rael alledge, Mal. 2 7. Deut. 33. 10. Neh. 8. 7, 8, 9. Leui. 10. 11. Ezech. 44 23. yea, and did boast of, Ier. 18. 18.
5. Or, succession of persons from time to time, in the same Chaire, or Seate?	This could she plead to the full, from Aaron the first ap∣pointed immediatly by God himselfe with his office, place, seruice, ornaments, and main∣tenance, his next successor to be also named by God him∣selfe, Num. 20. 28.
6. Or, the Continuance of this Couenant to vphold suc∣cession?	This had it in plaine words; and therefore was for euer the Priest-hood appointed to him and his seed, Num. 25. 12, 13.
7. Or, the presence of God with them?	So could and did Israel, M••ch, 3. 11.
8. Or, the name of the Church?	So they, Ier. 7. 4.
9. Or, that it is called ho∣ly, the Ground and Pillar of truth?	So was Ierusalem the holy Citie, Esay 48. 2. the Citie of truth, the sanctified Mount, Zach. 8. 3.
10. Or, that the Word did go out from them to conuert other Nations?	So could they, as they were taught by Esay, Chap. 2. 3. & of making Proselytes could the Pharises boast, Mat. 23.
11. Or, the Spirit to be in them to keepe their Teachers from erring?	Who could thus speake, as Israel might? Nehe. 9. 20. E∣say, 6. 3, 11. Zach. 7. 12. as Peter witnesseth, 2. Pet. 1. 21.
12. Or, that they are called the Church, and are come from the Apostles, & Church at Ierusalem?	So they by Stephen, Act 7. 38. also saith Isaiah, Esay 48. 1. Heare ye, ô House of Iacob, which art called by the

	name of Israel, and are come out of the waters of Iudah. So could the Scribes and Pharises boast of their Originall, Ioh. 8. 33.
13. Or, that they are Ca∣tholicks, and the world spred ouer with them?	And could not the Iewish Church say so? Of their Reli∣gion were some of euerie Nation vnder heauen, Act. 2. 5, 9, 10, 11. they were disper∣sed in all the Persian Monar∣chy, Este•• 3. 8. Chap. 1. there were many Proselytes made: such was the Eunuch of Ethi∣opia; and to make them, they trauailed Sea and Land, Mat. 23.
14. Or, that they haue euer had the holy Scriptures in their custodie?	So to the Iewes were com∣mitted the Oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2.
15. Or, y• the Church now hath many excellent promises?	What? more then Israel had? to be their God, they to him a peculiar treasure aboue all people, a kingdome of Priests, an holy Nation, Exod. 19. 5, 6. to come to them and blesse them, Chap. 20. 24. to be high aboue all Nations to praise, name, and honour; to be a holy peo∣ple, Deut. 26. 19. to circumcise their heart, and the heart of their seed; to loue him with all their heart and soule, Deut. 30. 6. to be with them, not to leaue them, nor forsake them, Deut. 31. 8. yea, he promised, that no new god should be among* 1.1 them, nor they to adore a strange god, Psal. 80. 10. Mount Sion was not to be remoued, but to abide for euer; and peace to be on Israel, Psal. 105. 1. whom he would redeeme from all* 1.2 iniquities, Psal. 129. 8. He chose Sion, and that to be his rest for 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, Psal. 13••. 13, 14. their way was to be the way of Holinesse, and so direct that fooles should not erre by it, Esay 35. 8. and such as erred in the Spirit, should know vn∣derstanding,

& the mutterer should learne the Law, Esa. 29▪ 24. and they should haue Pastors according to the Lords owne heart, which should feed them with knowledge and doctrine, Ier. 3. 15. To conclude, Israel had a promise to be saued with eternall saluation, they should not be confounded and ashamed for euer and euer, Esay 45. 17. yea, that we may know, that the promises were not to the people then liuing onely, the Lord saith, I will powre out my Spirit vpon their seede, and my bles∣sing vpon thy stocke, Esay 44. 3. and touching the Temple, thus saith God to Salomon, I haue sanctified this House, to put my Name there for euer, and mine eyes, and my heart shall be there* 1.3 alwayes, 3. Kin. 9. 3.

Yet for all these so gracious promises, she erred, she hath fallen away, and remaineth in her sinnes.

We haue heard out of their owne Bible; First, how the Churches defection hath beene foretold.

Secondly, how she also hath beene found guiltie.

Thirdly, the same proued by Historie of the Bible, from the beginning in Adam and Eue, till Christ, though the Church of Israel had admirable meanes to vphold it: to which I do adde this last.

From Christs comming, till Iohns being in Pathmos. In this space we may finde errours in the Church. The Apostles themselues before Christs Ascension, were in an error touching Christ his Kingdome, dreaming of a temporall kingdome, Act. 1. 6. Luk. 24. 21. of restoring the kingdome to Israel, and re∣deeming them: so as they did striue among themselues, which of them should be greatest, Luk 22. 24. and hereupon it was, that the mother of Zebedees children desired of him for her sonnes, that one might sit in his Kingdome, on the right hand, and the other on the left, Mat. 20. 20, 21. Their knowledge was very imperfect; for it is said often, that they vnderstood not many things, Mat 15. 16. Luk. 9. 45. and 10. 34. Ioh. 12. 16. and 29. yea, so slow of heart, and dull of hearing they were, that Christ telleth them, that he had many things to say to them, but that then they were not able to beare thē, Ioh. 16. 12. their faith was verie weake, as appeareth by his calling of them,

Ye of little faith, Mat. 8. 26 and 16. 8. Slow of heart to beleeue what the Prophets had spoken, Luk. 24. 25. Also by their for∣saking him, and flying from him when he was taken, Mat. 26 56.

After Christs Ascension, and the comming downe of the ho∣ly Ghost, they were ignorant for a time in this, that they did not thinke it was lawfull to go to the Gentiles; as we may see in Peter, Act. 10 15. 20. and the other Iewes, vers. 45. com∣pared with Cap. 11. 2, 3, 18, 19. The Churches of Galatia er∣red so, as S. Paul said, that he feared lest hee had laboured in vaine, Gal. 4. 11. I neede not here speake of errors, and He∣resies creeping in, troubling the Church, and deceiuing many, as in Act. 15. 2. 1. Tim 1. 3 6, 7, 19. 20. 2. Tim 2. 18, 19. 1. Cor. 15. 12. Ephesus fell from her first loue, Reu. 2. 4 Perga∣mus had in her such as vpheld the doctrine of Balaam, and of the Nicolaitans, Reu. 2 14. Thyatira tolerated Iezabel to reach and seduce Christs seruants, Reu. 2. 20. Sardis was an hypo∣criticall Church, and in a dying condition, and Laodicea luke∣warme, rich in conceit, but miserable; naked, blinde, and poore in condition, Reu. 3. 2, 16 17. S. Paul telleth Timothy, that all that were in Asia were departed from him, 2. Tim. 1. 15. Thus was the Churches state euen in the Apostles dayes. By which we may see the Church subiect to erre: and to hold the contrary, that she cannot erre, Antiquitie is against.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 81. 9.
• * 1.2

  Psal 1••••. 1. Psal. 13••. 8. Psal. 132. 13, 14
• * 1.3

  1. King. 9. 3.