The Notes of the church as laid down by Cardinal Bellarmin examined and confuted : with a table of contents.

The Second Note, ANTIQUITY.

• THis Mark and Character of a true Church is not proper to the Church of Rome alone, nor in truth doth it belong to it. To prove this three things are here offered.
• I. That the Plea of bare Anti∣quity is not proper to the Church, but common to it with other Societies, of false Religion. p. 41.
• The Notes of a thing must be proper to that of which they are a Note, and not common to it with other things. p. 42.
• 1. Because what is proper to a thing is inseparable from it, and did ever belong to it since it had a being, and can at no time be absent from it. ibid.
• 2. Other Societies have laid claim to this Note, and it could not be denied them, and therefore no proper Note of a Church. ibid.
• This shews that bare Anti∣quity cannot be a Note of Truth. p. 44.
• Antiquity and Priority widely different. p. 45.
• A twofold Antiquity; one in respect of us, the other abso∣lute and in it self. ibid.
• The Church of Rome will not be tried only by the Scriptures, which is the true Anti∣quity. p. 46.
• Error almost as ancient as Truth for which reason several wic∣ked Doctrines, running down to Posterity, have made use of the plea of Antiquity, to give them countenance and support. p. 47.
• II. The present Church of Rome vainly pretends to true Anti∣quity, i.e. to ancient Truth. p. 48.

• Wherein true Antiquity doth consist. ibid.
• The present Church of Rome not ancient, by reason of that alteration they have made in the ancient Creed. p. 49.
• Cardinal Bellarmin's Ratiocina∣tion against this charge con∣sisting of 6 things to be ob∣served in all Changes of Re∣ligion, none of which (he says) can be shewn in the Church of Rome, since the Apostles time. ibid.
• His reasoning built upon very false grounds, this considered and largely answered in four Particulars. p. 50.
• 1. As being contrary to all History and Experience, there having been great Changes in Religion, the Authors and the begin∣nings, &c. of which can∣not be known. p. 50.
• 2. Neither do the Examples they alledg for this their reasoning serve to no other purpose but to shew the falseness of it, as in the case of the Nestorian and Arrian Heresies. p. 51.
• 3. Supposing them true, they would uphold the greatest Impieties. ibid.
• The Heathen Gods and their Oracles supported by this Argument. p. 52.
• 4. The Roman Church it self an instance of this, there be∣ing an acknowledg'd change in it, and yet they cannot tell who first began it, viz. Com∣munion in one kind. ibid.
• Two instances out of Polydore Virgil, when and by whom they were brought into the Church of Rome. p. 53.
• 1. Their grand Article of Faith the Papal Authority, brought in by Victor, and carried on by the following Bishops. ibid.
• The present Definitions of the Catholick Church, and the Power of the Pope to de∣pose Kings not challenged till Gregory VII. i.e. 1000 Years after Christ. ibid.
• 2. It is known when Images crept into the Church. p. 55.
• A little more than 100 Years since unwritten Traditions were decreed to be a part of the Rule of Faith, i. e. of the Word of God. ibid.
• III. That the Religion of the Church of England by Law established, is the true Primi∣tive Christianity. p. 56.