Faith grounded upon the Holy Scriptures against the new Methodists / by John Daille ; printed in French at Paris anno 1634, and now Englished by M.M.

CHAP. XV. That the Articles of the Belief of Rome which we receive not into ours are contrary to the Scriptures, and very far from being taught there.

BUt to fill up the measure of our proofs, I will add in the last place, that the Doctrines believed by the Church of Rome, and reject∣ed by ours; besides their not being found in any part of the Scripture, shake it divers ways, destroying cer∣tain things which the Scripture lays down, and laying down other things which it destroys: This is so clear, that whoever will consider the whole without passion and prejudice will incontinently perceive it.

1. Ʋpon the Point of Sacrifice.

1. ROme saith, that Jesus Christ is, and will be every day crucified in an infinite of places, even to the end of the world. The Scrip∣ture saith, * 1.1 That he hath not offered himself more than once, and that he hath been once offered to take away the sins of many: So as 'tis ordained for men once to die.

Secondly, Rome saith, That Christ is now offered for our sins without suffer∣ing. The Scripture saith, * 1.2 that if he hath been offered many times he must have suffered more than once.

Thirdly, Rome saith, That the re∣mission of sins is obtained in his preten∣ded Sacrifice, * 1.3 without the effusion of blood. The Scripture saith, that with∣out shedding of blood there is no re∣mission.

Fourthly, The Scripture saith, that Christ dying on the Cross all was ac∣complished, and before his Ascensi∣on into Heaven, he himself hath pur∣ged away our sins and abolished

them. How then ought he still, as Rome saith, to be every day sacrificed for the same thing.

Fifthly, The Scripture saith, That none takes the honour of High Priest, * 1.4 and possesseth it, but he who is called of God as was Aaron. How is it then that the Priests of the Roman Church pretend this Dignity, since they can∣not make appear that God hath called them to it?

Sixthly The Scripture saith, that Jesus Christ is eternal High Priest, * 1.5 that he lives eternally, that he hath a perpetual Priesthood, that he is con∣secrated for ever, that he always lives a High Priest according to the Order of Melchisedec, who remains a Priest for ever. Why then doth Rome give Successors to him in this Of∣fice?

Seventhly Rome holds, That the Priests bless and consecrate the body of the Son of God. How doth this agree with that which the Scripture layeth down, * 1.6 That without all contradiction that which is least is blessed by that which is greater? Are then the Priests of the Church of Rome greater than the Lord?

2. Ʋpon the Transubstantiation and the real Presence.

1. ROme sayeth that, that which the faithful eat in the Eu∣charist is not bread. The Scripture saith that it is bread. * 1.7 Every time that you eat this bread and drink this Chalice, you shew forth the Lords death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat of this bread, &c. unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man then examine himself, and so eat of this bread and drink of this Cup. * 1.8 The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of the Lord?

2. Rome saith that, that which the Lord made his Disciples drink in the consecrated Chalice was not wine. The Scripture saith that it was the fruit of the Vine. * 1.9 Taking the Cup he gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of this. For this is my blood of the New Testament which shall be shed for many for the remission of sins. And I say unto you, that from this time

I will not drink of this fruit of the vine till that day that I shall drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom.

3. The Scripture saith, that we shall not have the Lord always with us here on the earth, * 1.10 and that the Hea∣ven must receive him until the time of restitution of all things. How so, if that which Rome holds is true, that his body is yet perpetually kept here below upon their Altars, and in their Pixes?

Fourthly, The Scripture saith, that the Lord is above, sitting at the right hand of God his Father in a Sovereign Glory. Rome saith that his holy Body is under the Species of a mean Creature, inanimate and insen∣sible, that it enters into the Stomachs of mortal men, yea, sometimes of the most wicked, and is subject to many other indignities, which we hardly dare think on. Is this to be in a state of Glory?

Fifthly, Rome believes that the body of the Lord is entire under e∣very crum of bread and in every drop of the wine of the Eucharist, and that his head, his feet, and all

the parts of his body are in one and the same place, and that his body is altogether above in Heaven, and here below in a thousand and a thou∣sand places of the earth; above visi∣ble, here invisible. Is this that which the Scripture saith, that except in sin, * 1.11 he is like his brethren in all things; that is to say, to the faithful, as every one confesseth? is there ever a Believer whose body is capable of such acci∣dents? the flesh of the Believers is a true body, and hath all the proper∣ties of it. Now there was never seen a body of this nature, which is held in a place much lesser than its proper quantity.

3. Ʋpon the Adoration of the Eucharist.

THere is no need to add any thing to what I have been spea∣king concerning the precedent Arti∣cle. For since the Eucharist is truly bread in substance, every one seeth enough how much this Sovereign ser∣vice, which they give it in the Ro∣man Church, is contrary to all Scrip∣ture, which from the beginning to the end forbids us nothing, more expresly,

oftner, and under more grievous threatnings than the adoration of any Creature of what nature and dignity soever. * 1.12 Thou shalt have no other God before me. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

4. Ʋpon Purgatory.

ROme saith, that it often hap∣pens that those who die in the faith of Jesus Christ are burnt in a fire as hot as that of Hell. The Scrip∣tures saith, * 1.13 That they are happy, that they rest from their labours; that there is no condemnation for them; that their earthly habitaion of this house being dis∣solved, they have a building of God, an eternal house not made with hands in the Heavens. That so long as they are in this body they are strangers to the Lord: and when they are strangers to the body (which is when they quit it) they shall be with the Lord; * 1.14 and tells us, that the repenting Thief was with the Lord in Paradise the same day he died.

2. Rome sayeth, that this subter∣ranean fire purgeth us from some of our sins. * 1.15 The Scripture saith, that the blood of Jesus Christ purgeth us from all sin.

5. Ʋpon Justification.

ROme teacheth that we are justifi∣ed partly by faith, and partly by good works. How agreeth this with that Scripture, which saith, * 1.16 that man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; and that God hath saved us, not for the righ∣teous works which we have done, but ac∣cording to his mercy, & with that which is asserted in so many places, * 1.17 that we are saved and justified by Grace, since that if it be by Grace, 'tis not by works, otherwise Grace would be no more Grace; * 1.18 and that to him that worketh, the hire is not reckoned of Grace but of debt; and with that which is said, that we have not whereof to glory, * 1.19 since that he who is justified by his works hath (accord∣ing to the same) whereof to glo∣ry.

6. Ʋpon the Merit of Works.

ROme teacheth, that we do by our good works so much me∣rit eternal life; that if God should not give it to us, he would do un∣justly. How can this agree with the Language which the Scriptures tea∣cheth us, * 1.20 when you have done all the

things which are commanded you to do, say, we are unprofitable Ser∣vants, we have done that which we ought to have done.

2. Rome holds that eternal life is, to speak properly, a reward due to the value of our works. * 1.21 The Scrip∣ture saith, that it is a gift, or a grace of God, and a mercy, and that al∣though we should have kept his Com∣mandments (that which we fail much in) yet he useth gratuity and mercy towards us in well-doing. * 1.22

3. Rome holds, that between the vertue of the faithful and eternal life there is a proportion; and the Scrip∣ture saith, * 1.23 That the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compa∣red with the glory to come which shall be revealed in us.

4. Rome holds, that the Lord ow∣eth him who hath lived well and ho∣lily, eternal life. The Scripture Scripture teacheth us, that God ow∣eth no body any thing: Who is he that hath given him first, and it shall be rendered to him again? * 1.24

7. Ʋpon the Worshipping of Saints.

1. The Scripture condems those

men who worship (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) those which by nature are no Gods. * 1.25 Rome worshippeth (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) the Saints which are no Gods by nature.

2. The Scripture saith, * 1.26 that God only knows the hearts of all men, & that the dead know no more any thing; that they understand not whether their Sons are noble or ignoble, * 1.27 that their eyes do not see the evils which God brings upon the places where they have lived. Rome teacheth, that deceased Saints know all that is done upon the earth, and that they know the most secret thoughts of our hearts.

8. Ʋpon the Worshipping of Images.

Rome fills her Temples and Streets with the Images of God, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, and of the most Blessed Virgin, and of all the Saints, repre∣sented, as well by flat painting, as in all sorts of Sculpture. She will have one render to them an adoration and veneration analogical; prostrate before them, kiss them, offer them Bougies or Tapers, go a Pilgrimage to the places which are consecrated to them. How agreeth this with what the Scri∣pture

saith, * 1.28 You saw no similitude in the day that the Lord your God spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest perhaps being deceived, you should make you any graven Image in the likenes of male or female. Thou shalt make thee no graven Image, * 1.29 nor the likeness of any that is in Heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them (The Hebrew saith, thou shalt not prostrate before them) and serve them. * 1.30 You shall make you no Idol nor graven Image, nor rear up any Image, nor set up any Image of stone in your Land to adore it. (It is also in the Hebrew to prostrate before it.)

9. Ʋpon the Monarchy of the Pope of Rome.

1. Rome teacheth, that the Pope is the Sovereign Judge of the world, a Monarch assisted by the Princes of his Court, who governs Kings, who makes the greatest of the earth kiss his slippers, who wears three Crowns upon his head, who can chastise the States of Christianity with pains not only spiritual but temporal. How a∣greeth this pretended Power and the

manner with which he hath exercised it many years since before the face of Heaven and earth, with that which the Lord commanded his Apostles, The Kings of the earth exercise Lord∣ship over them, * 1.31 and those who use au∣thority over them are called Benefactors. But it is not so with you, but he that is greatest amongst you let him be the least, and he that governs as he that serveth. And with that which St. Peter com∣mands, * 1.32 Feed the flock of God which is committed to you, &c. not as having Lordship over the Clergy and people of God, but as being examples to the flock by your charity.

2. Rome holds, that the Pope is a∣bove the Church. The Scripture sends back him and every Believer having quarrelled with his Brother to the Tribunal of the Church, and ob∣ligeth him to submit to her Judg∣ment. * 1.33 If thy brother hath sinned a∣gainst thee, &c. tell it to the Church, and if he disdain to hear the Church, let him be to to thee as a Heathan man and a Publican. And elsewhere, all it saith, * 1.34 that all things belong to the Church; and namely, Paul, Apollos,

and Cephas; and in another place speaking of the Apostles in general, it calls the Servants of the Church for the love of Jesus.

3. Rome esteemeth St. Peter the Master and Sovereign Lord over the other Apostles. How comes it then that the Scripture speaking of him, doth not [name in the first place or rank, * 1.35 but in the second only, James, Cephas, and John having known the Grace which was given to me? How comes it that the other Apostles sent him to preach in Samaria? * 1.36 How comes it that St. Paul preached three years without communicating any thing of his designe to him? How comes it that even Paul himself said boldly, * 1.37 that those who were in e∣steem added nothing to him? and re∣counts very freely, that he resisted St. Peter in Antioch to his face, * 1.38 be∣cause he was to be blamed? Are these the terms of a Subject to his Prince? And would they suffer now adays that the Bishop of Hostia should treat so with the Pope, or from him.

10. Ʋpon the distinction of Meats.

Rome teacheth that the use of flesh is wicked and unlawful two or three days in a week, and during all Lent. * 1.39 The Scripture saith, that every Crea∣ture of God is good; that nothing is to be rejected when it is taken with thanksgivin; and that God hath created food for the faithful, and for those who have known the truth to use it with thanksgiving; and calls the Commandment of abstaining from it, a Doctrine of Devils; and qualifies them who assert it with the terms of teachers of Lyes, and de∣serters of the faith, abusing them∣selves with lying Spirits; telling us particularly that such will come in the last days.

11. Of the unmarried state of the Ministers of the Religion.

Rome teacheth, that for the Mini∣sters of the Christian Religion to marry is an impure and unlawful thing. The Scripture testifieth that

some of the Aopstles were married, as amongst the rest St. Peter; * 1.40 and where it propounds conditions neces∣sary for a Bishop, * 1.41 it requireth not that he be not married at all, but on∣ly that he be the husband of one wife.

12. Ʋpon the retrenching of the Holy Cup.

Rome suffers none but him only who hath consecrated the Eucharist to drink of the Cup of the Lord, de∣nying the Communion of it to all o∣thers. The Scripture saith to those who Communicate, * 1.42 Drink all of it: and St. Paul, Let a man prove him∣self, and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this Cup.

13. Ʋpon the Exemption of the Ministers of Religion.

The Scripture saith in general, * 1.43 Let every man be subject to the Higher Pow∣ers, &c. For the Prince is a Servant of God for thy good; but if thou doest evil, fear; for he weareth not

the Sword in vain. * 1.44 Be subject to e∣very order of man for the love of God, be it to the King as Supreme, be it to Governours as to them who are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for praise to those who do well. The Apostle Paul knowing this order sub∣mitted himself to it, * 1.45 appearing be∣fore the Officers of the Emperorour, and appealing to him. Rome holds that all her Clerks even the least of them are exempted from this Subje∣ction.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 9.••5, 26, 27, 28, & 7.27.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 9.26.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 9.22. John 19.30. Heb. 1.3. & 9 26.
• * 1.4

  Heb. 5.4.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 110.4. Heb. 5.6. & 7.3.24, 25, 28.
• * 1.6

  Heb. 7.7.
• * 1.7

  1 Cor. 11.26, 27, 28.
• * 1.8

  1 Cor. 10.16.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 26.27, 28, 29.
• * 1.10

  Mat. 26.11. John 12.9. Acts 3.21.
• * 1.11

  Heb. 2.17.
• * 1.12

  Ex••d. 20.3. Mat. 4.10.
• * 1.13

  Apoc. 14.13. Rom. 8.1. 2 Cor. 5.6, 8.
• * 1.14

  Luke 23.23.
• * 1.15

  1 John 1.7.
• * 1.16

  Gal. 2.16. Tit. 3.5.
• * 1.17

  Rom. 11.6
• * 1.18

  Rom. 4.4.
• * 1.19

  Eph. 2.9. Rom. 4.2.
• * 1.20

  Luke 17.10.
• * 1.21

  Rom. 6.23. 2 Tim 1.18.
• * 1.22

  Exo. 20.6.
• * 1.23

  Rom. 8.18
• * 1.24

  Rom. 11.35.
• * 1.25

  Gal. 4.8.
• * 1.26

  1 King. 8.39.
• * 1.27

  Eccl 9.5, 6 Job 14.20, 21. 2 Kin. 22.20.
• * 1.28

  Deut. 4.12, 15, 16.
• * 1.29

  Exod. 20.
• * 1.30

  Lev. 26.1.
• * 1.31

  Luke 25.22.
• * 1.32

  1 Pet. 5.3.
• * 1.33

  Mat. 18.15, 6, 17.
• * 1.34

  1 Cor. 31.21, 22.
• * 1.35

  2 Cor. 4.5.
• * 1.36

  Gal. 2.9.
• * 1.37

  Acts 8.14. Gal. 1.17, 18.
• * 1.38

  Gal. 2.6. Gal. 2.11.
• * 1.39

  1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.40

  Mat. 8.14.
• * 1.41

  1 Tim. 3.2
• * 1.42

  Mat. 26.27. 1 Cor. 11.28.
• * 1.43

  Rom. 13.1
• * 1.44

  1. Pet. 2.13, 14.
• * 1.45

  Acts 25.10.11.