A01532:533
A discussion of the popish doctrine of transubstantiation wherein the same is declared, by…A discussion of the popish doctrine of transubstantiation vvherein the same is declared, by…
A discussion of the popish doctrine of transubstantiation wherein the same is declared, by the confession of their own writers, to have no necessary ground in Gods Word: as also it is further demonstrated to be against Scripture, nature, sense, reason, religion, and the judgement of t5xxauncients, and the faith of our ancestors: written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. and pastor of Rotherhith.A discussion of the popish doctrine of transubstantiation vvherein the same is declared, by the confession of their owne writers, to haue no necessary ground in Gods Word: as also it is further demonstrated to be against Scripture, nature, sense, reason, religion, and the iudgement of t5xxauncients, and the faith of our auncestours: written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. and pastor of Rotherhith.
London: printed by John for William Sheffard, 1624London: printed by Iohn for William Sheffard, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 2 › Division 14: Division 14.Part 2 › Division 14: Diuision 14.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The first Authors of this new Sect, were Apostates of our Church for their confessed disorders of life, and miserable ends plainly discovered to have been no Apostolical persons: whose endeavours have never tended at any time to convert Pagans to Christ, as his true Church shall ever do, but to corrupt Christians truly already converted: And they have seldom planted themselves in any Country, but upon very carnal, gross occasions, as here in England, or with open rebellion, and tragical acts against lawful Princes and Magistrates, namely in Scotland, France, Flanders, Switzerland Suevia, Polonia, several Provinces of Germany, Geneva it self and other Protestant territories.
The first Authors of this new Sect, were Aposta•aes of our Church for their confessed disorders of life, and miserable ends plainely discouered to haue been no Apostolicall persons: whose endeauours haue neuer tended at any time to conuert Pagans to Christ, as his true Church shall euer doe, but to corrupt Christians truly already conuerted: And they haue seldome planted themselues in any Countrey, but vpon very carnall, grosse occasions, as here in England, or with open rebellion, and tragicall acts against lawfull Princes and Magistrates, namely in Scotland, France, Flanders, Swisserland Sueuia, Polonia, seuerall Prouinces of Germany, Geneua it selfe and other Protestant territories.
The pretence of a Church and Religion like to theirs in former ages cannot colourably be defended without many shifts & contradictory devices: Some will have it to have been latent and invisible for 800. others 900 other 1000 or 1200. years: Others contrarily teach it to have been ever visible and conspicuously dilated into many Christian Countries, as the Oraculous predictions of the Prophets and express promises of God himself describe it: Others say that our Church was ⟨p. 198⟩ever the true Church of Christ; only in some parts of faith not fundamental erring, and by them since Luther reformed: Others deny that ever our Church was the true Church of Christ, or other than a prevailing faction in the true Church professing at all times visibly and in all Christian countries their present doctrine. But no one of these dreamers and Church-devisers (as I may term them) is able before Luther to assign in any age since Christ or Country of the world one Parish of Protestant true professors, or single person jumping in all points with any one sect of them: their religion indeed being like a beggars cloak patched together out of old condemned Heresies and unsuitably composed. Their marks of a Church, to wit, preaching of true doctrine and a rightful administration of Sacraments are such as any heretical sect past or to come may equally pretend according to the main grounds of Protestant doctrine; which are to admit no common translation or interpretation of Scripture, but what themselves list for discerning of true doctrine and rightly administering Sacraments.