And therefore have we most justly rejected the Rabble of ceremonies which the Papistis held for the chief exercise of their Religion, as things having no better ground then the invention and consent of men. Now shortly of the Kirk commonly called Catholic. The name of the Kirk is common, and is taken aswell for the congregation of the wicked, as for the assembly of the godly, as it is plane be the words of David, saying,1 I have hated y• Kirk, or the assembly of the wicked, the term ⟨image 11⟩Catholic, which signifies universal, he• not included in it that virtue which Papists allege, That is, that whatsoever is catholic, y•, must be good. For if so were, then sin in the original world should have been good, for it was so Catholic (that is universal) that it overflowed y• hole earth only one house excepted. How universal Idolatry was amongst the Gentiles, Histories witness, and how braid the pestilent sect of Machomet is this day spread, experience does teach us. And yet we suppose, that no man of right judgement will either approve the one or the other, notwithstanding of their universality, & there fore we must have a better assurance of y• Kirk, to the which we ought to join our selves then that it is Catholic, or universal, To wit, it must be holy, & the communion of Sanctis. For in the confession of our faith, we say not I believe the Kirk universal, but I believe the holy Kirk universal, the communion of Sanctis. Wherefore we affirm, that if that Kirk which is called Catholic or universal have not holiness in the heart be true faith, & the Confession of the same in the mouth, & in the forehead, it ceases to be y• immaculate ⟨image 12⟩spouse of Jesus Christ, in whose bosom the sons of God are nourished to the life everlasting. And so before that the writer of the letter shall be able to convict us, that we have declined from the holy Kirk, he must first define what is the very holiness of the Kirk, wherein it consists▪ from whom it flows, and what is the effect of the same. And when thus he hes done, he must prove that the Kirk of Rome hes been and is only holy, so that no Kirk before it did ever enjoy that title, nether yet that any that after may ensue it, may so be justly called, & thus we think shall be very hard to Master Tyrie and all the Jesuits in Europe to prove.
And thairfoir haue we most iustly reiected the Rable of ceremoneis which the Papistis held for the cheif exercise of thair Religioun, as thingis hauing na better ground then the inuentioun and consent of men. Now shortlie of the Kirk commounlie callit Catholick. The name of the Kirk is commoun, and is taken aswell for the cō gregation of the wicked, as for the assemblie of the godlie, as it is plane be ye wordes of Dauid, saying,1 I haue hated y• Kirk, or the assemblie of the wicked, the terme ⟨image 11⟩Catholick, which signifyis vniuersall, he• not included in it that vertew which Papistes alledge, That is, that whatsoeuer is catholick, y•, must be gude. For if so wer, then sin in the originall world shuld haue bene gude, for it was so Catholick (that is vniuersal) that it ouerflowed y• hole earth only one hous excepted. How vniuersall Idolatrie was amongis the Gentiles, Historeis witnesse, aud how braid the pestilent sect of Machomet is this day spred, experience dois teich vs. And yet we suppone, that no man of right iudgemēt will either approue the one or the other, notwithstānding of their vniuersalitie, & there fore we must haue a better assurāce of y• Kirk, to the which we aucht to ioyne our selfis then that it is Catholick, or vniuersall, To wit, it must be holy, & the cōmunioun of Sanctis. For in the confessioun of our faith, we say not I beleue the Kirk vniuersal, bot I beleue the holy Kirk vniuersall, the cōmunion of Sanctis. Wherefoir we affirme, that if that Kirk whiche is called Catholick or vniuersall haue not holynes in the heart be trew faith, & the Confessioun of the same in the mouth, & in the foirhead, it ceissis to be y• immaculate ⟨image 12⟩spous of Iesus Christ, in whose bosōe the sonnes of God ar nurished to the lyfe euerlasting. And so befoir that the wryter of the letter shalbe able to conuict vs, that we haue declyned from the holy Kirk, he must first defyne what is the verray holynes of the Kirk, wherein it consistis▪ fra whome it flowis, and what is the effect of the same. And when thus he hes done, he must proue yat ye Kirk of Rome hes bene and is only holy, so that no Kirk befoir it did euer enioy that tytill, nether yet that any that after may ensew it, may sa be iustlie callit, & thus we think salbe verray hard to Maister Tyrie and all the Iesuites in Europe to proue.
- 1Psal. 2•.
