A consultation about religion, or, What religion is best to be chosen with an appendix upon this question, whether every one may be saved in his own religion / translated out of Latin in which it was written by an eminent professor of divinity.

The Seventh Consideration from Succession.

THat Religion is to be judged the true Religion, whose Pastors are all des∣cended from the Apostles, and are the A∣postle's Successors, or who derive their Au∣thority and Ordination from them. For by this reason it is evident, that that Religion, and that Church which holds that Religion, is Apostolical; but such is the Catholick re∣ligion; therefore that is the true religion.

Now that all Ministers of the Catholick religion descend from the Apostles (whether you regard the Power of Order or Jurisdicti∣on) is manifest; for all her inferior Ministers (especially Sub-deacons, Deacons, and Priests) are ordained by Bishops; the Bishops re∣ceive their Order from other Bishops; and these again from others, and so upwards to the Apostles, who receiv'd this Power imme∣diately from Christ, as Christ from his Fa∣ther, As my Father sent me, says he, I send you; and so must you send others; and so I am with you and them to the end of the World.

As therefore, all Men, according to the Life of Nature, (by a long tract of Gene∣rations,) descend from Adam; so all the Ministers of the Catholick Church, according

to Super-natural Power (by a long race of Ordination and Consecration) descend from Christ our Lord, who is the Second Adam. There is no Minister, therefore, in the Church of God, but can derive his Power of Conse∣cration to offer Sacrifice, absolve from Sins, and to administer other Sacraments (whereby Christians are sanctified) from Christ, the Chief Fountain and Author. Whence it follows, that all his Works (which he does by this Power) are attributed to Christ, as the Supreme Author, who instituted this Power, and invisibly presides and assists therein; Man being only his Instrument, whereby he does all this; as St. Augustine and other Fathers excellently observe and teach.

In like manner all power of Jurisdiction of Ministers to rule and govern Christians, to preach the Word of God to them,* 1.1 and officiate in their Pa∣storal Duty, descends from Christ, and may clearly be re∣duced to him; for the Curates or Parish Priests have their Ju∣risdiction from the Bishops, and Bishops from the Chief Bishop, the Pope; the Pope, seeing he is Blessed Peter's Successor in the same Chair and Authority of governing the Ʋniver∣sal, or Catholick Church, must needs be in∣vested with the same Jurisdiction which was immediately conferred upon St. Peter, and

in him to all his Lawful Successors: And also only those who have not an ordinary, but a de∣legated Authority in the Church, must have it from Parochial Pastors, or Bishops, or the Pope: So that there is no Minister in the Catholick Church, no Preacher of God's Word, or Ca∣techizer, who cannot shew plainly his Mission, and demonstrate the same to be derived from Christ: And indeed, if they could not do so, they were in no wise to be heard, but sus∣pected, and esteemed as Wolves in Sheeps-cloathing, since they enter not into the Sheep-fold by the door, but creep in privately another way, Joh. 10.

This Argument alwas the Ancient Fathers chiefly made use of,* 1.2 to convince all Here∣ticks; for by it, the Continua∣tion of our Religion (from several Ages up to the time of the Apostles) is clearly shew'd. The Succession of Priests, from the See of St. Peter the Apostle (to whom our Lord commended the care of feeding his Sheep) to this present Bishop,* 1.3 keeps me in the Church, says St. Augustine; and the like says St. Hierome in his Dialogues.

But now none of the Ministers of the New Religions can shew this. And indeed the power of Order (whereby the Sacraments are administred, and the People sanctified) they cannot derive from Christ and his Apo∣stles,

because they have taken it quite away: Nor is there any amongst them that have received the Episcopal or Sacerdotal Order, unless it be some Apostares from the Catholick Religion, whose Orders then are of no more use and service; and yet the Church of Christ has had always these degrees, and been go∣vern'd by them. Likewise they never had any power of Jurisdiction to preach the word of God, as true Pastors, or to administer Baptism, and rule the People in Spirituals, and Divine Worship. For I ask, of whom had Luther and Calvin this power? Of whom was either of them sent to preach their New Gospel and Reform the People? For they were not sent by the Ordinary Pastors of the Church, as 'tis sufficiently manifest. They came therefore of their own accord, without any Authority or Commission; which is a certain sign they ought not to be believed, but rejected. For how shall they Preach except they be sent? Rom. 10.15. He that entreth not by the door into the Sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a Thief and a Robber; but he that entreth in by the door is the Shepherd of the Sheep, Joh. 10.1. They enter not in by the door who usurp the Pastoral Office, without Ordinary or Lawful Authority.

* 1.4But perhaps they will say, that they were sent by Christ, and received Authority from

to reform the Church: But 'tis not enough to say so; for all Arch-Hereticks, or Sect-Ma∣sters, affirm this of themselves; therefore they ought to produce their Letters-Patents, that Christ sent them, whereby to convince us, and confirm our Belief; as the Apostles confirmed their Mission with great Miracles; otherwise we ought not to accept their Re∣formation; but are bound rather to reject them, as Imposters.

Again, how did Christ send them, when they teach such different and contradictory Doctrine amongst themselves? For if Christ sent Luther, Calvin could not be sent by him, who overthrows Luther's Doctrine in many points, and damns it as Heritical. On the contrary, if Christ sent Calvin, Lu∣ther then could not be sent by him; for God is not contrary to himself, nor does the Spirit of the Prophets contradict each o∣ther. I omit other things which might be said to this purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tract. 5. in Joan. Chrysos. hom 80. ad pop. Ambros. l. 4. de Sacram. c. 4, 5.
• * 1.2

  Irenae. l. 3. c. 1. Tertul. de pre∣scrip.
• * 1.3

  August. Epist. 165. Optatus l. 2. cont. Parm. Hier. cont. Lucif.
• * 1.4

  Whether Se∣ctaries are sent by Christ.