CHAP. XXIX. That albeit the true Church might be invi∣sible, yet the Protestants had no invi∣sible Church, before Luther.

IT hath been already proved, that, albeit the Protestants had had an invisible Church before Luther; yet it could not be the true Church, which must be alway's visible. Now remaines to be shewed the second thing which was vndertaken above, to witt; that, albeit an invisible Church were sufficient, yet the Pro∣testants had not so much as one of that nature, before Luther; and so they succumb, as well de facto, as they have done de iure; and conse∣quently this device of an invisible Church, for two reasons, will serve them to no purpose: Which is shewed thus. An inv•sible Protestant Church, is a Church, which beleeved the Protestant faith in their heart, albeit they made no external profession of it. But de facto there was no Church before Luther, which belee∣ved the Protestant confession of faith. There∣fore Page  298 there was no visible Protestant Church, before Luth r. The Maior is evident: because there is this difference between a visible, and an invisible Church: that the first professeth the faith, the other professeth it not: but they both agree in this, to have inwardly the faith: Without which, there cannot be any Church. Therefore an invisible Protestant Church is a Church, which beleeved inwardly the Pro∣testant faith. The Minor is proved of the time immediatly preceeding Luthers preaching. For either Luther himself, before he began to op∣pose the Pope, was a member of this lurking Protestan Church, beleeving the Protest•nt Confession, or these, who adhered to him, were members of it, or some others, who did nor ioyne with him; and besids these no others can be found or imagined. But none of these can be said. For Luther is avowedly confessed by himself and all men,* to have been a Roman Catholique, a Priest, a friar of S. Augustins order, and, as himself acknowledgeth, said Masse devoutly, and honored the Pope in his heart. Therefore Luther, before he opposed the Pope, did not beleeve inwardly the Protes∣tant faith, and was not a member of the Prot•stants lurking invisible Church, but was a member of the Roman visible Church. But so were Melanchton, Carolstadius, the Sa∣xons and all the rest, who followed him, Pa∣pists, or Priests, professing the Roman religion, & knowing nothing of the Protestant, till Lu∣ther taught them. Therefore all these, who ad∣hered Page  299 to Luthers new doctrin, were before that time, not lurking Protestants; but pro∣fes't Papists. Neither were there any other members of that suppos'd lurking Protestant Church, who did not ioyn with Luther. For, if there had been any, they should and would have come out of their lurking holes, so soon as Luther began to preach, and got the pro∣tection of secular Princ•s. For then there was no more feare of persecution, which was the only reason, why these men did not professe their religion. And therefore, that being taken away, if there had been any such invisible Protestants, they would have showen themselvs visible, acknowledged their bre∣thren, run and ioyn'd hands with them, and said: Behold this is the faith, which we al∣way's beleeved, although we did not, or durst not professe it. But no such persons did ap∣peare when they might safely, and ought in all duty to have appeared. Therefore there was no lurking Protestant Church before Luther: and consequently, the Protestants had no Church at all before him, neither visi∣ble, nor invisible.

This may be yet further illustrated & con∣firmed. For there may be conceived two kinds of invisible Protestant Churches. The first is a Church, which believed in their hearts the Protestant faith; and yet made profession of the contrary religion, to witt of Popery. The second is a company of people, beleeving also internally the same faith, but making no pro∣fession Page  300 of a contrary religion. And between these two extreames there is no medium. But the Protestants had neither of these two invisible Churches before Luther. Therefore they had none at all. Not the first [which, although they had, could not have been the true Church of Christ, or a society of faithfull Christians, but rather was a miserable crue of dissembled Sycophants; for so they behoved to be, who beleeved one thing, & professed the contrary, which they thought grosse superstition & Ido∣latry] Not the first, I say. For such a dissem∣bled Church behoved to beleeve the Protes∣tants faith in their heart, and professe the con∣trary, against their consciences. But there were none before Luther, who beleeved the Protestant faith in their hearts, &c. because Luther himself beleeved the Roman Catholi∣que faith in his heart, and of this, there can be no greater evidence, then his own testimony against himself. For he professeth, that he ho∣noured the Pope for conscience sake, and thought, that he would have been severed from God, if he had been separated from the Pope; and much more to this purpose. There∣fore Luther was not a dissembled Protestant, but rather a sincere Papist, before he began to oppose the Pope. Neither were there any other before him, who believed the Protes∣tant faith, & professed the contrary: because his followers were ignorant of the Protestant re∣ligion, till Luther taught it, and shew them the light. This is witnessed by prime Protes∣tants, Page  301 who say: It's ridiculous to think,* that any man before Luther, did attayn vnto the true doctrin, or that he receiv'd it from others, and not others from him. That all the world was overwhelmed, with more then Cimme∣rian darknesse; that Luther was sent to dispell it, and to restore the light of true doctrin. Be∣sids, that chief article of Iustification by faith only, was altogether vnknown before Luther,* so that M. Fox affirmeth, that, Luther, by opening that veine, which lay a long time hid, overturned the foundation of Popery. M. Wotton averres, that Luther may truly glory, that he was the first, who taught Christ espe∣cially concerning that principal Euangel•cal doctrin of Iustification by faith alone.* Therefore saith he, It was a great honour to Luther, to have been a Son, withovt a Father, and a Disciple, without a Master. All which testimonies do evince, that there was not so much as a dis∣sembled Protestant Church before Luther: Neither as I conceive will any iudicious Pro∣testant plead much for such a Church, which although it had been, could not be the Church of Christ, but rather the Synaguogue of Sa∣than, and so not the true Church, which we are now searching after.

Neither had the Protestants that other kind of invisible Church, before Luther; which beleeved the Protestant faith in their hearts, and made no profession of the contra∣ry. For first, Luther & his followers did not beleeve it, till he opposed the Pope as hath been Page  302 presently proved. Secondly, they professed themselves, both by words & actions, to be Roman Catholiques, and so made profession of a religion, contrary to the Protestant, The∣refore, in both these conditions, this invisible Protestant Church is visibly deficient, and consequently, there was no kind of an invisi∣ble Church before Luther, neither a sincere, nor a dissembled Church, if we will iudge of it, by the persons, who m•de it visible. Nei∣ther were there any other lurking Prot•stants: for they would have shown thems•lves, when there was no more danger for them, as hath been said, which they d•d not: or if they were lurking, they are still lurking, and will ever lurk vnto the day of Ivdgment. For there is no more reason, that they shall appeare at any time hereafter, then now, or in the time of Luther. Therefore this invisible Protestant Church is a meer Chime•a & fiction, without all ground, and against sense & experience. The Independents, who aros• within these twel∣ve years, or thereabout, and who before had been, for the most part, violent Presbyterians, may pretend vpon the same groundlesse fan∣cy, that their Church had alway's endured, invisibly. The same might also pretend the Quakers, who are more lately sprung vp. But if any of these Congregations were so vnrea∣sonable, as to make that pretext, which they may as lawfully do, as any other Protest•nts: who would be so vnreasonable as to beleeve them, or who could be so simple, as to be de∣cived Page  303 by them, the beginning and progresse of those Congregations being so well known, & so late and fresh in all mens memories? In the Presbyterian sense, any person, although ne∣ver so great a liar, might take vpon him to be a Prophet. For, albeit he foretold things never so false, which never came to passe, yea that fell out quite contrary, he might say with the Presbyterians, they were all fulfilled, but invi∣sibly. Now what is more foolish then this device? What would be more ridiculous in the iudgm•nt of Iewes and Pagans, and more iniurious to the truth of the Christian religion? For, if they would demand how are the pro∣phesies, concerning the perpetuity of Christs Church, fulfil'd? How are his clear promises to his Church kep't? And if it were an swered, as the Presbyterians do, that they were all ful∣filled and kept, but invisibly. What could more confirm these men in their infidelity, then this answer? What could make the Christian religion appeare to them, to be more false and ridiculous? S. Augustin did far otherwise vn∣dersta•d the pro•hesies of the Scripture, con∣cerning the Church. For, writing against the Donatists, on this same subiect of the Church, he saith. Let vs heare some few things out of the Psalms, so long ago sung and foretold, and let vs now with ioy see them fulfil'd. Again:* Heare this out of the Divine booke, how it was foretold, and see now in the world how it is at complish'd. Therefore, as there is no other way to make a prophesy true, but by fulfilling it: so there is Page  304 no other way to know it to be fulfilled, but by visible and sensible performance of it.

By what is said, may be easily seen, that the complaint of Elias, which is alway's in the Puri∣tans mouth, makes nothing for their invisible Church, before Luther. For first Elias was only speaking of Israel, as a famous Protestant con∣fesseth,* in these words. Our vnskilfull Reformers say, that the Church was invisible in the time of Elias, but the holy Spirit testifyeth, that he spake this of Israel, and not of Iuda: for he knew that good Iosaphat was reigning in Iuda, and that the Church was not only visible there, but also floo∣rishing in great piety. Wherefore it is an evil pa∣rity, to say: the Iewish Synagogue was invisi∣ble a short time, in one province, albeit it was visible at the same time in another. Therefore the Christian Church may be, or was invisi∣ble throughout the whole world; for a thow∣sand years & above. 2. These, who were lur∣king in the time of Elias, bowed not their knees to Baal; which if they had done, they had not belong'd to the invisible Church of God. But all the suppos'd invisible. Protestants, as Luther and his followers, bowed their knees to the Masse, (which they esteem Ido∣latry) as hath been shewed. Therefore they could not be the invisible Church of God. 3. Al∣though these good Israelits were invisible to Elias, at such a distance, when he fled; yet he knew many of them to be visible; both to others,* and among themselves. For Abdias told him a little before, that he had hid 100. Page  305 Prophets of the Lord in two Caves, where he fed them. But all Protestants before Luther were invisible: both to others, and themsel∣ves. For not so much as one person knew him∣self to be a Protestant, before Luther taught that religion, as hath been proved. 4. Although the whole Iewish Synagogue had been invisi∣ble, which is most false; yet it followes not, the whole Christian Church may be, or was so too: For this, as S. Paul testifyeth: is foun∣ded vpon better promises. 5.* Salvation was not altogether tyed, before Christ, to the Ie∣wish Synagogue, for there were some faith∣full Gentils, as Melchisedeck, Iob, &c. But the Presbyterians, by making the whole Chris∣tian Church to be invisible for many ages; take away all the ordinary means of salvation, which only can be had in the visible Church. Lastly. Albeit all the faithfull, both Iewes and Gentils, had been invisible, in the time of Elias; yet this would make nothing for Pro∣testants: vnlesse they had been also invisible, before Luther. But de facto, there were no lurking Protestants before him, as hath been clearly proved. Therefore, although the Church could be invisible, yet the Protestants had no invisible Church, before Luther. And besides the reasons brought above against this invisible Church, it may seem truly strange, that, for so many ages, not so much as one person of it, was heard of, or known; never so much as one false brother could be found among them, to reveale them. And, which is Page  306 most strange, when this invisible Church be∣came visible, not so much as one person did appeare, who had been a lurking member of it. Such groundlesse conceipts require strong imaginations to fancy them, but much more credulous hearts to beleeve them. Wherefore Elias complaint, for many reasons, makes no∣thing for Protestants; but is cleary against them.

So is also their other refuge to the Church of the predestinate, which they say was invisible, before Luther. For 1. there is no such Church, because Christs Church is a Congregation of all true beleevers; as well reprobate, as predes∣tinate;* There is in his floore both wheat and chaffe: and in his field both corne & tares. 2. The Pre∣destinate are as visible, as the reprobate; S. Peter was as visible, as Iudas. 3. Although it were granted, there had been some invisible Predestinate, before Luther; yet none of them could be Protestants, because none believed the Protestant faith, till Luther taught it; as hath been proved. 4. Either these supposed Protestants before Luther, professed their faith, or not? If they professed it, then they were not invisible.* If they profess'd it not, then they were not predestinate. For with our heart, saith S. Paul, we beleeve vnto iustice, and with our mouth Confession is made to salvation. 5. It is at least requisite, that the predestinate should not deny their faith, if they will not confesse it; or else they cannot be predestinate. But all the supposed invisible Protestants, before Luther, Page  307 denyed their faith, by professing Popery, as hath been shewed.* Therefore they could not be predestinate. Lastly, heresies and persecution make the predestinate more conspicuous. He∣resies, saith S. Paul, must be, that these, who are approved, be made manifest among you. Who are more approved before God then the predesti∣nate? Who are made more manifest before men, then they, especially when heresy & persecu∣tion do arise? For then, by their close adhereing to the true faith, and their profession of it [whereas others, either through error or feare fall from it) they are rendred more conspicu∣ous, as the Scripture shewes; and therefore they are not made hid & invisible, as the Pu∣ritans do alleadge. Hence it is, that the Church is so far from being invisible in the predesti∣nate, more then in others; that, vpon the contrary, when that might happen in others, either by error, infirmity, or feare of persecu∣tion, then the true Church shall be most ma∣nifest in the predestinate,* and is principally con∣served in them. For then, as S. Augustin speaks In suis firmissimis eminet: she shines in her most stedfast members. Predestination indeed is invi∣sible, and so is reprobation: but the predes∣tinate are as visible, as the reprobate; yea,* they are the most eminent members of the visible Church, out of which they cannot be found, as Melanchton confesseth. Let vs not dreame, saith he, that the elect can be found any where, but in the visible Society of the Church. But the Protestants had no visible Church before Lu∣ther: Page  308 therefore they had no predestinate; and so many wayes this Babel is overturned. The Apostles, and all the ancient Christians, who were predestinate, were members of the vi∣sible Church, and professed their faith in the time of the Heathen persecutions, which were more cruel & vniversal, then any, that has hapned since. They had not Giges ring, to make themselves invisible; not the black arte of dissembling in religion, as the invisible Pro∣testants (if there were any) behoved to have: which are qualities very vnbeseeming the pre∣destinate.

By all which, it remaines sufficiently pro∣ved, that the Protestant Church cannot be the true Church. For to resume briefly the argu∣ment. The true Church must have still conti∣nued since the ascension of Christ to this time. But the Protestant Church hath only conti∣nued since the revolt of Luther. Therefore the Protestant Church is not the true Church. There is nothing more certain then the Maior. The Minor hath been proved; be∣cause, if there had been any Protestant Church, before Luther; it had been ei∣ther visible or invisible. But there was nei∣ther. Not the first: because there was no Church nor person, before Luther, that pro∣fessed entirely any Protestant Confession, for any little time, much lesse for the whole time, between, the Apostles & Luther. Not the se∣cond: because, if there had been any invisible Protestant Church before Luther, it had be∣come Page  309 visible, when Luther appeared, and the feare of persecution was taken away. But no such invisible Church did then appeare. And moreover, it hath been shewed, that, al∣though the Protestants had had an invisible Church before Luther; yet it could not be the true Church, which ought to be alwayes vi∣sible; and that an invisible Church is against Scriptures, Fathers, reason, Protestants own principles, disparageth the Christian religion; gives great advantage to Iewes and infidels; and leads men into Apostasy and Atheism. And so both the holes of Visibility and Invisibility, by which these foxes were accustomed to es∣cape, are now lay'd, or stop't. The diverse es∣saies, which many Protestants make to find their Church, shew the difficulty of the ques∣tion: so that they see, what they ought not to say, but cannot see what to say, that hath any probability of truth. They have travailed much to find out their Church, before Luther; they have been above these 100. years in seeking it, and we have followed the most famous Guides among them. But both they & we have labou∣red in vaine, to find that, which cannot be found. Yet we make much profit of our labour, if we have discovered, that the Protestant Church before Luther, cannot be found, not because it was hid, but because it was not, as hath been proved: and therefore leave off any further search of it; following S. Augustins advice, who writes thus to the Donatists, a∣bout the like purpose. Some thing, saith he, Page  310 may be,* and yet not found out: but that, which hath no being, cannot be found. Let them there∣fore leave off to seek that, which they could not find, not because it was hid, but because it was not.

To this purpose spake the Catholique; who, vpon my desire, delivered me thereafter these things, more fully in writing: which, after se∣rious consideration of them, gave me such sa∣tisfaction, that I desired him to proceed to the proof of his own Church; which he did in the manner following.