SECTION III. Of the Covenantes vain pretext of the word and Spirit of God: and of the marks, by which they describe their Rel•gion.

THAT this matter may proceed more clearly, we shall set down in order the words of the Covenant; and then subioyn the Observations we made vpon them. The Pre∣face then of it goes thus.

To passe by the first sensible vntruth, about the long and due examination of their con∣sciences, which was lately touched; they pre∣tend next, that they are fully perswaded of the truth of their Religion, by the word and Spi∣rit of God. But this is no new song, neither is it only peculiar to them. All sects, although never so monstrous, which receiv'd the Scri∣ptures, have made, and do make the same pretexts: And this they must all do, or else they would get few followers. But that the Cove∣nanters make this pretext as falsly, as any other sects, is very evident. For first, they falsly pretend to be perswaded of the truth of their Religion, by the word of God, seing they beleeve diverse points, as principal arti∣cles of their religion, which are expresly against Page  423 the word of God. Which may be shown by many Instances: but we shall be content with two or three. The Covenanters beleeve, as the principal article of their religion, that man is iustifyed by faith only, which is clearly against the word of God, which saith in expresse tear∣mes: Man is not iustifyed by faith only.* They beleeve, that the Commandments are impossi∣ble to be kept: Which is against the word of God, which affirmeth that Gods Command∣ments are not grievous,* and that Zachary & Eli∣zabeth did keep them. They beleeve, that the Eucharist is not the body and blood of Iesus Christ:* which is directly against the Scripture, which affirmeth: It is his body and blood: and that, with such words, as design the true body & true blood. Therefore, it is evident, that they cannot be perswaded of the truth of their reli∣gion, by the Word of God, seing the princi∣pal articles of their religion are so clearly ag∣ainst the word of God. Yea, before their re∣ligion can be true, the most clear truth in all the Scriptures must be false, to witt: the per∣petuity of the Church of Christ. For their whole religion is founded vpon that supposi∣tion, that the whole Church of Christ had become Anti-Christian, and had perished, for a long time, before Luther: Then which, nothing can be more against the word of God, as we have seen above. Neither have the Co∣venanters any other refuge, to shun these con∣tradictions, between their beleef and the Scri∣ptures, but to fly vnto tropes & figures, and Page  424 pretend, that these places of Scripture must be vnderstood figuratively: which is the very frau∣de, that was vsed by the auncient heretiques. So soone,* saith S. Augustin, as any Error doth prepossesse their mynds: they esteem all to be figu∣res, which the Scripture saith to the contrary. Yea, they must bring senses, iust contrary vnto the words of the Scriptures: as for example, the Scripture saith: Man is not iustifyed by faith on∣ly, which, according to their beleef, must be vnderstood, as if the Scripture said, Man is iu∣stifyed by faith only: which it nowhere saith. Therefore, if men can be perswaded by the Scripture, to beleeve such things, as are con∣trary to the expresse words of Scripture; the Covenanters are perswaded by the Scripture, of the truth of their religion: otherwise they are not; but rather perswaded to the contrary.

Secondly, they come as small speed of their pretext, of the Spirit of God. For first they can bring no more ground for it, then all sects do, that is their own bare words: and therefore, they ought not to be beleeved more, then others. Secondly, They cannot be perswaded, by the Spirit of God, who oppose the Catho∣lique Church, which, according to Christs promise, is ever directed by the Spirit of Truth. S. Iohn, who adviseth vs wisely, not to be∣leeve every Spirit; but to prove the Spirits, if they be of God, gives this Touch-stone, by which they may be tryed. He that knoweth God,* saith he, knoweth vs, and he that is not of God, knoweth vs not. In this, we know the Spirit Page  425 of Truth and of Error. This same Touch-stone has held in all succeding generations. For the∣se, who would not beleeve the Catholique Church, and the Pastors thereof, succeeding vnto the Apostles: although they bragged ne∣ver so much, of the Spirit of God, were in∣stantly seen to be misled by the Spirit of Error, and were condemned as heretiques; who, with insolent folly, would appropriat the Spi∣rit of God vnto every one of their own giddie heads, and yet deny it to the whole Catholi∣que Church, against the clear Scriptures The same holds against Calvin & his descendents, the Presbyterian Covenanters. Thirdly, They cannot have the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Vnity, who have mingled among them, the Spirit of giddinesse, and Contrarie∣ty: by which their Erroneous Spirit is disco∣vered now, even to the most simple among the people. Lastly, the Covenanters falsly pretend that they are fully perswaded, of the truth of their religion. For, if they had full assurance of it, they would not make so many changes in it: and besides, their Director is very vnconstant: for what is more changeable, then the privat Spirit?

Having seen now, said the Catholique, the Covenanters vain & false pretence of the word and Spirit of God, we will briefly run through the description of their religion: and, to spare paines of often repeating their names, we will turn our speech to them. First, you say: that your faith & religion is the only true faith, & Page  426 religion pleasing God, and bringing Salvation to man. If this were true, the world, for ma∣ny ages had been in a pittifull condition. For, about the space of a thowsand, or 12. hundred yeares, your faith & religion were not known; and so all that time, there had been no means of salvation. By which device, you not only controule the clear Scriptures: but also show your selvs enemies to the Glory of Christ, to the riches of his Grace, and to the perpetuity of his Kingdome, yea and to the very good of Man. And lastly you oppose most famous Pro∣testants, who acknowledge, Salvation was had in the Roman Church, before Luther; and may be had now after him; in so much, that King Iames, in his speech to the Parlament, 1605. sharply censures you, for this cruel opi∣nion. We confes, saith he, that many Papists, (especially our Ancestors,) &c. may be saved: and often are saved: detesting, in this parte, and iudging worthy of fire the cruelty of Puritans, who yeeld Salvation to no Papist. Secondly, you des∣cribe your religion further, saying that it is now reveald to the world, by the preaching of the Evangel. But that is rather a mark of the false, then of the true religion. For the true Chri∣stian faith was reveald of old, by Christ & his holy Apostles; and from that time, could never be hid: But your Presbyterian faith has iust two contrary qualities, to witt: it is now re∣veal'd, and has lyen long hid. S. Vincentius Lyrinensis sheweth the nature of your faith, by describing the doctrine of the auncient He∣retiques. Page  427 What do they propose, saith he,* but new and vnheard doctrines. For you shall heare some of them say. Come ô you vnwise & miserable men, (who are commonly called Catholiques) & learn the true faith, which, besides vs, none knoweth; which has lyen hidd many ages, but now is lately revealed and manifested. Neither doth it a whi∣te availe you, that you call your faith the Gos∣pel; and the revealing of your faith, the prea∣ching of the Gospel. For so, all heretiques call their greatest Errors, the Gospel of Christ. S. Hierom saith wisely, that the Gospel of God,* by a false interpretation, becames the Evangel of man: or, which is wo•se, the Evangel of the Devil. So there still remaines a great question about the truth of your preaching; which is nothing but your privat interpretation.

Thirdly, to make your faith more commen∣dable, you pretend, that it is both auncient & Vniversal. You pretend Vniversality, when you say, that your faith is beleeved, received, and defended, by many Notable Kirks and Realmes, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland. Next you lay claime to a certain kind of Anti∣quity, when you say, that it hath been of a long time openly professed. Such is the evidence of Truth, that Enemies to it are sometimes en∣forced, to make vse, or rather a shew of it.

But to speak first of the vniversality of your faith: where are all these many notable Real∣mes and Kirks, which you affirm do professe your religion? In Europe no such Kingdomes can be found. For Swedland & Denmark are Page  428 known to be Lutherians, who have neither Vnity of faith with you, nor Communion in Sacraments, and abhorre the very name of Calvin, & of all Sacramentaries. The Realme & late Church of England maintaind the Hie∣rarchy of the Church, abhorring very much the Anarchy of your Presbytery: and now, since England became a Commonwealth, it hates nothing more then the Soule-Tyranny, as it is commonly called there, of your Presby∣tery. The other famous Kingdomes of Europe are either totally, or for the much greater part, Roman Catholiques: So that, the many No∣table Realmes of your religion, are as yet invi∣sible, vnlesse you would count all those to be of your religion, who are not Papists, or who go vnder the general name of Protestants. But that cannot be done; for the Vniversality of a Church requires Vnity in faith, & Commu∣nion in Sacraments, which you evidently want, with a great part of Protestant Churches. And therefore, knowing that you want this Vnity; you wisely pretend, that this faith, which you so much praise, is chiefly professed by the Kirk of Scotland. For every one of you pretends to be chief, and will not yeeld to another.

Then yow come as little speed of your Anti∣quitie. For all the long time, that your faith was profest, from the beginning of your Re∣formation, to the first making of the Covenant, is but about 20. years, and as yet to this day, it has not past the bounds of one Age. If you had the Vniversality & Antiquity of the Ca∣tholique Page  429 Church, how would you glory; when you make such a stirre, with your fewnesse and Novelty? For your one Kingdome, and your one hundred years, in which your reli∣gion has been professed: we can show you the same Kingdome, professing the Catholique re∣ligion, above 14. hundred years; and all the famous Christian Kingdomes and Countries of the world, making the same profession, even to the first time of their Conversion, from Infidelity to Christianity. And for your one King, mentioned in your Covenant, which he took in his younger years; disproveing it, when he became more ripe: as appears in the Conference, at Hampton-Court; we can show you 80. Kings of the same Nation, diverse of which are glorious Saints in heaven, who lived and dyed in the Catholique Profession; To whom we may add, all the famous Christian Kings & Emperours, that have been in the world.

But, albeit you were more spread, then you are: you would find no great advantage by it: S. Augustin compareing you, with good rea∣son, to smoake,* which doth vanish so much the sooner, by how much it is greater, & mo∣re dilated abroad. This we have seen verifyed, in our time. For the late Church of England, intending to dilate her self in Scotland, did shortly thereafter vanish like smoake in En∣gland. Again, the Scottish Presbytery, in∣deavouring with great zeal, to propagate it self in England, lost soone much of its fyrie Page  430 force in Scotland. Secondly, Antiquity of your religion would tend no lesse to your rui∣ne: for, as S. Hierom hath observed, all here∣sies please only men for a time, and when they grow old, they weare out of request as may be known, by the many alterations of religion, that have happened in Scotland; but especially in England, since their publique fall from the Catholique religion.

Then, for Acts of Parlament, whereby you say your faith is confirmed; they cannot be very many, seing the religion is so late: nei∣ther can they give great confirmation to a re∣ligion: because they are very changeable. We see one Protestant Parliament has ransacted the Kings Su•remacy, which many Protestant Parliaments had enacted: and that, which was before declared Heresy, if not Treason, to deny, is now iudged both great follie and Treason to affirme. The true religion is war∣ranted by a higher authority, then by earthly Courts: But the Protestant religions are made, and vnmade, by Protestant Parliaments.

The last point here proposed containes three vntruths linked together; as where you say, that you all willingly agree in all points: All the Horologes of the world will sooner agree, then your wills. When coercive power is now taken out of your hands, you see, how many do willingly & freely disagree from you. Then you call all the points of your faith, Gods vn∣doubted truth, which they cannot be, besides other reasons; because many Protestants doubt Page  431 of diverse of them, yea they think them vn∣doubted falshoods: and besides, yourselves are often changeing them: which shewes, that many articles of your faith are doubtsome; and your faith of them is nothing, but meer opi∣nion.

Lastly, it is most false, that all your faith is grounded only vpon the written word: be∣cause you beleeve some things, without the word of God, as the changeing of the Sabboth into Sunday, the baptizing of infants; and, which is more, you beleeve some points against the expresse word of God; as your article of Iustification by faith only, to speak nothing of diverse others. And moreover, you lay down a false ground, when you professe to beleeve nothing,* but what is containd in the Scriptu∣res, whereas they expresly bid you: Hold fast the Traditions.

Thus we have seen all your pretences; as about the word & Spirit of God, the Vniver∣sality & Antiquity, of your faith (by which you would make it more commendable) to be false & groundlesse. Now we shall see, how bitterly you renounce & accurse the Catholi∣que faith.