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OUr Adversary sayes that there are only two things necessary for Salvation, viz. To live a Life conform to the Law of God. And to Obey Humane Power deriv'd from Him: But these two things are fulfill'd by Protestants, then they may be Sav'd.
The first part he proves by the publick and pri∣vate
use they make of the Holy Scripture, alledg∣ing they take from thence the subject of their mu∣tual Discourses, Meditations and Instructions com∣posing their whole Life to its Model.
I Answer by this their assiduous use of Holy Scripture, they with the light, they think they have from God above other Men, find it is impossible for any meer Man to keep God's Commandements, or to live a Life conform to the Divine Law; yet our Adversary gives us this for a mark that they are in a Saving Way, because they Actually live a Life conform to the Law of God. I need not tell you that these two propositions cannot stand together. If you deny the former, you discredit the SCOTS Catechism, and the torrent of Protestants: If you disallow the latter, our Adversary's Proof is lame of one Foot; let us now see if it can stand on the other. The great Reformer Calvin, not to speak of other Protestants, holds that the Laws of Men are nowise oblidging in Conscience. Nunc, saies he, L. 4. Instit. c. 10. n. 5. ad humanas leges re∣deamus: Si in hunc finem latae sint ut Religionem nobis injiciant quasi per se necessaria sit earum ob∣servatio, dicimus conscienciae imponi qued fas non erat, now (saies he) let us return to Humane Laws, if they be made on the account of binding us in Religion, we say 'tis a restraint lay'd upon our Conscience which was a thing Unlawful to do. Neque enim cum hominibus sed cum uno Deo negoti∣um est Conscientiis nostris. For the business of our Conscience belongs to God alone and not to Men. How is then the observation of them, one of the two things necessary to Salvation? Which was the second part of his proof, that Pro∣testants are in a saving Way. You see our Adver∣sary is here quite of his Feet, the first of his proof
failing by Protestant's Confession, and the other being of no force as a matter indifferent to Salvati∣on. To rise up again, and get favour at least. If he can't credit, with those of his Faction to make us Odious, he saies that Protestants are not of that Opinion of some Catholicks, to wit, that the Pope has a Power to depose a King.
Answer. I avow some Protestants are not of their Sentiment the difference between them and those Catholicks is this, that the Catholick Au∣thors say it but faintly, cum formidine de opposito with fear that the contrary Opinion be true. But Protestants who hold a deposing Power, hold it strongly, undoubtedly with a secure Judgment of the goodness of the Action, having confirmed it by publick Authority of Church and State, and a legal proceeding, as was seen in the Bloody deposing of CHARLES the first our Lawful Soveraign. I grant the Loyal party now has a Horrour of that deposing Power. But it must be confessed the Royal party it self had not that horrour when be∣ing of the Church of England they deposed in like manner Queen MARY of Scotland Lawful Heir of that Kingdom.
Since then the Actions of both the Church of Eng∣land and Kirk of Scotland, or, of both the Prelatick and Presbyterian party make our History blush at what they have done in this matter, should not either of them be asham'd to cast up so often to the R. Catholick Religion that some of Her Chil∣dren have Written, not with assurance, but with a fear that the contrary Opinion was true, that there is a deposing Power in the Pope.