places out of the True Gofpels: Thus the Marcionites *Tertul. con- dealt with the Gofpel of St. Luke. But ftill the Rule was preferved fafe,and the true Chriftians framed their Faith, Worship, and Manners by it.

tra Marcion. 1. 4. c. 2, &c. p. 414.

Can. Alius,

p. 1083.

Among the Heathens, Dioclefian endeavour'd to deftroy all the Copies of the Holy Bible, and by that means to root out the Chriftian Religion. But fuch was the Courage of the Chriftians, who chose rather to offer themselves, than their Bibles, Sacrifices to the Flames; and so many, and fo widely dispersed were the Copies of that Sacred Book, and fo watchful was the Providence of God, that no one Leaf of the Scripture perished.

Among Men profeffing Christianity, as the Authority of the Papacy encreased, the use of the Scriptures decreased in that Church; which being poffeffed of an unhappy Priviledg of a Chair in the Imperial City, began too early to fet up it felf as a Kingdom of this World. Now the Holy Bible not ferving all the Political Purposes of fuch a Kingdom, many Methods have been ufed towards the giving of Men a diverfion from it, as the Christian Rule.

When the Popes triumphed in Temporal Power,then they were confulted as the Chriftian Oracles. Such a + Decret.par.2 Pontificate was that of Pope Zachary, who † depofed Caufa 15.Qu.6 the King of the Franks; not (as the Canon Law fpeaks) for his Iniquities, but because he was not capable of managing fo great a Charge. To him Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz applied himself for an Anfwer to this frivolous Queftion, After what Time was Bacon to be eaten? A Question fitter to have been refolved by the Pope's Cook or Physician, than by the Holy Father himself. But the Pope was fo condefcending as to give him punctual fatisfaction on this manner:

We

of creating Proofs is an Invention w challenge to themselves, without movi of Envy in the Reformed.

Secondly, The Romanists declare, tha are fo obfcure, even in Matters of F People, without an Infallible Guide, ca the true sense of them. If this Doctri true, it is most abfurd for them to go a their Articles to the People out of the Scr: that supposeth the Scriptures clearer than : for that by which any thing is proved, i known and certain, than that which is This way likewise sets up the People as sense of these Scriptures which they offer the main Points in difference; that is, they fefs the People can judg of that of which th they cannot judg, by reafon of their weakne obfcureness of the Holy Writings. But w have a mind to proceed in a Caufe, it is not diction that can stop them. Therefore, notw ing this, and very much more of the like natu. might be alleadg'd against this way of procee plainly inconfiftent; ftill, amongst the weak difcern not the Abfurdity, and have not skill their Methods one against another) they make boast of Scripture-proofs for their Religion,, and

ours.

ag

This way Bellarmine himself took; not fo much the ufe of the Italians, as the Germans and English; being fet up by Gregory 13th in the Chair of Contr verfial Divinity, in the German and English Colledge. at Rome, for the Converfion of the Proteftants of those Countries.

Touchstone of

due to his Work. It is on this infincere manner that he proceeds for the beguiling of fuch who profess a Religion they do not well understand.

Firft, He charges the Proteftants with Opinions which they do not hold, and then he brings Texts of Scripture for the confuting of them.

I will give a few Inftances of this kind, by which it will appear that Mifreprefenting was a Fashion here among the Romanifts in our Fore-fathers Days, as well as it is in Ours.

"Chap. 9. That the Church was not always to re the Ref.G.12°. ❝ main Catholick or Universal.

"Chap. 10. That the Church's Unity is not neceffain all Points of Faith.

ry

"Chap. 17. That the Actions and Paffions of the "Saints do ferve for nothing to the Church.

Chap. 21. That Faith only juftifieth; and that good Works are not abfolutely neceffary to Salva06 tion.

"Chap. 27. That the Holy Angels pray not for us. "Chap. 29. That the Angels cannot help us. "Chap. 32. That the Saints pray not for us. "Chap. 46. That Jefus Chrift defcended not into "Hell.

All these are manifeft Calumnies; yet are they reckon❜d to us as Proteftant Doctrines. But fo formerly did they deal with Wickleff, forging Errors in his Name, and then condemning him as the Heretical Author of them.

Yet