Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

The First Reason.

The present Papal Church of Rome, cannot possibly prove her self to be the Church of Christ: Therefore she is not the Church of Christ.

The First Reason maintained.

THe Consequence of the Argument no understanding Man can deny; for unless a Party pretending to be the Church of Christ, can some ways sufficiently prove that they are his Church, they cannot reasonably blame any body that refuses so to account of them. And for the Ante∣cedent, namely, that it is impossible for the present Papal Church to prove her self the Church of Christ, it is evident from this ground, viz. They make both the Scripture, and all other Writings, depend on their Church for their Authority; and therefore they must prove themselves to be the Church without the help of any Authentical or Authoritative Writings; which thing is impossible for them to do.

Being thus divested of the help of all Records, as is more fully shewed above, there remains now nothing for them to lean upon, but their own Evidence, or the Tradition of their Fore-fathers; not that which is con∣tained in any Records, but only that which hath been delivered by word from Man to Man, &c. But alas! What Tradition is this they speak of? Not the Tradition of the Church to us, till the Persons delivering the same, be found to be the Church; which, as before, they cannot be found to be,

without the Scripture. And for their own Evidence, that may not prove them to be the Church to those that contend with them; it cannot avail them, sith each Party contending in this case, will, and may, as reaso∣nably as the Papists, look that their own Testimony should be as available for these, as the other for those.

It is as vain here to tell us, they are the Church, because the true marks of the Church do agree to the Papal Church, and none else. For, first, the true Marks of the Church are confessed by the Papists to be found in the Scripture; which Scripture they receive not, but from the Authority of their Church, (yea, their present Church) * 1.1 so that till the Scripture can tell us Authoritatively which be the Marks of the Church, no Church can be found by those Marks; nor can the Scripture tell us of those Marks Authoritatively, till Rome, as a Church, give it us for God's Word: So then Rome must be found the Church, before there be any Marks to find her by; which is impossible.

As for Example; To clear this Matter further, the Papists say, That Holiness is a Mark of the True Church. But now set the Holy Scripture aside, and how shall I know Holiness from Unholiness, without the Scrip∣ture? Here the Papists being in a strait, rather than they will let the Law of God, or the Scripture have the preheminence, do answer thus; * 1.2 That we have a Law in our Consciences, which dictates what is good, and what is otherwise; and by this Law, even a Heathen may judg our Church holier than any other Congregations of Christians.

What a miserable plunge (of Heathenism or Quakerism) are they brought to here? How do they know that a Heathen may, by the Law of Conscience, judg their Church to be more Holy than ANY other Con∣gregation of Christians? Were they ever Heathens to know this? But alas! What Holiness can a Heathen judg of? Surely not that which is an infallible Mark of the True Church; for this Spiritual Matter is foo∣lishness to the Natural Man; nor can he know it, because it's spiritually discerned. It is true, there is a Holiness discernable by the Law of our Consciences. But this only, is not an infallible Mark, that any Society is the Church of Christ; nor did ever any Man (I am perswaded) hold forth such a Doctrine, that was a faithful Minister of the New Testament, or Spirit.

Again, What of this kind of Holiness, whereof a Heathen (as such) can judg, is there found among the Papists, which may not be found among the Baptists? yea, among those that are opposite to both, as the Quakers and others; yea, among the very Jews and Turks may be found as much of this kind of Holiness as among the Papists, if any credit may be given to Histories.

Sometimes the Papists do object the * 1.3 Creed as suf∣ficient, to demonstrate a Man to be a Member of the Church, though he know not whether there be any Scripture. But I answer, How shall this be proved to be the Creed? It must not be its own Evidence; for then the Scripture may as well speak for it self, which the Papists will not allow; nor can the Church of

Rome confer any Authority upon the Creed, till they be found to be the Church: So then this is the Conclusion, Rome must be found to be the Church, before there be a Creed.

I do therefore humbly desire these few Observations may be seriously thought upon by all sober Men, but especially the Papists, that so Men may give to the Holy Scriptures, that which is proper to them; that is, That they may speak, without controul, both for themselves, and every thing else of a Religious Consideration; or else all Volumns of the An∣cients, and Societies of Men, pretending to Christianity, (as things stand in our days) must depart into utter silence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Author of the 7 Queries.
• * 1.2

  Author of the 7 Queries.
• * 1.3

  It would be here noted, That nei∣ther the Marks of Unity, Universa∣lity, &c. nor the Creed, do prove a People that have them all, to be the Church; because none of them menti∣on Baptism, without which there can∣not be a visible Church.