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Title:  The ancient doctrine of the Church of England maintained in its primitive purity. Containing a justification of the XXXIX. articles of the Church of England, against papists and schismaticks: The similitude and harmony betwixt the Romane Catholick, and the heretick, with a discovery of their abuses of the fathers, in the first XVI ages, and the many heresies introduced by the Roman Church. Together with a vindication of the antiquity and universality of the ancient Protestant faith. Written long since by that eminent and learned divine Daniel Featly D.D. Seasonable for these times.
Author: Lynde, Humphrey, Sir.
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effectuall to all that belong to the covenant.To the fift. The Iesuit most absurdly infer∣reth absurdities upon his owne Tenet, suppo∣sing it to be ours, whereas we disclaime it, affir∣ming that although the Church useth in marriage, all meanes possible by questions and answers, by joyning hands, by plighting their troth in most significant tearmes, and confirming their mutu∣all promises by giving and receiving a ring, and denouncing Gods judgments against them in most fearfull manner, if they know any thing one by the other, why they should not be ioyned in marriage, yet because the heart is knowne to God alone, the validity of marriage with us de∣pendeth upon the outward profession, and sa∣cred action done before sufficient and undoubted witnesse and not the secret intentions of the par∣tie. What the Iesuit addeth by way of jeare, that a small deale of orders serves our turnes, for he seeth not any thing done by vertue of our ordination which any man or woman may not doe without it. I hold it not worthy any other answer then that, sith he professeth his eye sight to be so dimme, he would make use of the Spectacles he made for the Knight, by helpe of them if he be not starke blinde, he may see, that by vertue of our ordination, men in holy orders preach the Gospell, administer the Sacraments, remit and retaine sinnes: which if he thinke any man or woman may doe without ordination, like the foole in the Poet,Dum vitant stulti vitia in contrario cur∣runt. he is gone from one extreame to the other, and of a Papist0