A manuel of controversies clearly demonstrating the truth of Catholique religion by texts of Holy Scripture, councils of all ages, Fathers of the first 500 yeers, common sense and reason, and fully answering the principal objections of Protestants and all other sectaries / by H.T.

The major is manifest out of the very noti∣on and definition of schisme and heresie; the sequel of it is proved thus by Scripture. A man that is an Heretike after the first and second admonition avoid knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment, Titus 3. 10. There shall be ly∣ing masters which shall bring in Sects of perdition, and deny him that bought them, the Lord, bringing upon themselves speedy perdition, 2 S. Pet. 2. 1. S. Jude calls them raging waves of the Sea, foam∣ing out their own confusion; wandring stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever, Epist. v. 13. I beseech you, brethren, observe these who make schisms and scandalls contrary to the do∣ctrine which you have been taught, and avoid them, for such men serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by kind speeches, and blessings, seduce the heart of the simple, Rom. 15. 17. Woe to the world because of scandalls, for it must needs be that scandalls come, but notwithstanding w••e to that man by whom scandalls come, S. Mat. 18. 7, 17. If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the Heathen, and the Publican, S. Mat. 18. 18. If any obey not our word, do not company with him, that he may be confounded, 2 Thes. 2. 14.

The Minor is proved, because Luther and his fellow Protestants devided themselves from the communion of all Churches, there∣fore from the communion of the Catholique Church, and that as well in poynts of doctrine, as matters of government, as plainly appears by all we have said, and is yet confirmed, because when they began their separation, Luther in Germany, Tyndall in England &c. the Catho∣lique Church was in most quiet possession of her Tenets, in perfect peace and unity, her Doctrines and government being the very same they had been, not only to the time of Gregory the great (as Protestants confesse) but to the very time of the Apostles, as is manifest both by the publique Liturgies, Councels, and Records of all Ages, in which no one Doctrine of Faith, or substantiall point of Discipline, then professed by the Roman Catholique Church, and opposed by Protestants, had ever been censured and condemned as heretical or schismaticall, but all for the most part actually designed and established against antient here∣tiques, as you have seen in the Councils.

Fathers for this Point.

IN the 2. Age Irenaeus: God will judg those who make schisms in the Church, ambitious men, who have not the honor of God before their eyes, but ra∣ther

imbracing their own interests then the unity of the Church, for small and light causes divide the great and glorious Body of Christ, &c. for in the end they cannot make any reformation so important, as the evill of schism is prejudicious. l. 4 c 62.

In the third age S. Cyprian: Do they think Christ is amongst them when they are assembled out of the Church of Christ? No, though they were drawn to torments and execution for the con∣fession of the name of Christ▪ yet this pollution is not washed away, no not with bloud; this inexpiable and inexcusable crime of schism is not purged away even by death it self. De unit. Eccles.

In the fourth Age S. Chrysostome; There is nothing so sharply provokes the wrath of God, as the division of the Church, insomuch that though we should have performed all other sorts of good things, yet we shall incur a punishment no less cru∣ell, by dividing the unity of the Church, then those have done, who pierced and divided Christs own Body. In Ephes. Hom. 11.

In the same Age Optatus; The unity of the Episcopall Chair is the prime endowment of the Church. L. 2.

In the fifth Age S. Augustine; If any man be found separated from her (the Church) he shall be excluded from the number of Children, neither shall ••e have God for his Father, that would not have the Church for his Mother: and it will no∣thing availe him to have rightly believed, or to

have done never so many good works without this conclusion of the soveraigne good, de Sym∣bol. ad Catechum. l 4. c. 10. And again, Who∣soever hath charity is assured, but as for cha∣rity, no man transpor••eth that out of the Church, in Psalm. 21. And in another place, Out of the Church an Heretike may have all things but salvation; he may have the Sacraments, he may have the Faith and preach it, &c. on∣ly salvation he cannot have, sup. gest. Emar. And to the Donatists he sayes, You are with us in Baptism, in the Creed, and in the other Sacraments of the Lord, but in the spirit of unity, in the bond of peace, and finally in the Catholike Church you are not with us, Epist. 48.

Objections solved.

Ob. WE separated only from the Church of Rome's errors.

Answ. Yes, from her Catholike and Aposto∣licall Doctrines: She doth not erre in Faith, as hath been proved. I answer therfore with S. Augustine to the Donatists▪ •• object to you the crime of schism, which you will deny, and I will pre∣sently prove, because you do not communicate with all nations, cont. Petil. Add, no nor with any Nation before Luther.

Ob. We refus'd only the Church of Rome's innovations and superstitions.

Answ. You slander. Her Discipline and Doctrines were the same then, that they had been in all precedent ages. Did the Church perish (saith S. Augustine to the Donatists) or did she not? If she did, what Church then brought forth the Donatists? (or the Protestants?) If she did not, what madness moved you to separate your selves from her, on pretence of avoiding the communion of bad men? l. 1. cont. Gaudent. c. 7. And again; We are certain no man can justly separate himself from the communion of all Na∣tions, (yet Martin Luther and Mr. Tyndall did it) Epist. 48. And in another place; All separation made before the drawing the n••t on the shore (at the day of judgment) is damnable, and the sacriledge of schism, which sur∣passeth all other crimes. L. 2. cont. Epist. Parmen.

Ob. We did but separate from the particu∣lar Church of Rome. Therefore not from the whole Church.

Answ. I told you in the question of the Churchs Universality in what sense the Church of Rome is Universal or Catholique, and in what sense she is particular, take it in which acception you will, your consequence is false, for whosoever separates from an acknowledg∣ed tr•••• member of the Catholique Church (and such the Church of Rome then was in her particular) he consequently separates from the whole, and is an heretike, or schisma∣tike.