A09453:3
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
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.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, SIR WILLIAM BOWS KNIGHT, &c. Grace and peace.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL, SIR WILLIAM BOWES KNIGHT, &c. Grace and peace.
Right Worshipful, it is a notable policy of the devil, which he hath put into the heads of sundry men in this age, to think that our religion and the religion of the present Church of Rome are all one for substance; and that they may be reunited as (in their opinion) they were before. Writings to this effect, are spread abroad in the French tongue, & respected of English Protestants more than is meet, or ought to be. For, let men in show of moderation, pretend the peace and good estate of the Catholic Church as long as they will; This union of the two religions can never be made, more then the Union of light & darkness. And this shall appear, if we do but a little consider, how they of the Roman ⟨image 3⟩church have razed the foundation. For, though in words they honour Christ, yet in deed they turn him into a Pseudo-Christ and an Idol of their own brain. They call him our Lord, but with this condition that the Servant of Servants of this Lord may change and add to his commandments: having so great a power, that he may open and shut heaven to whom he will; & bind the very conscience with his own laws, and consequently be partaker of the spiritual kingdom of Christ. Again they call him a Saviour, but yet in Us: in that he gives this grace unto us, that by our merits we may be our own Saviours: and in the want of our own merits, we may partake in the merits of the Saints. And they acknowledge that he Died and Suffered for us, but with this caveat, that the Fault being pardoned, we must satisfy for the temporal punishment either in this world or in Purgatory. In a word, they make him our Mediator of Intercession unto God; but withal, his Mother must be the Queen of heaven, and by the right of a mother command him there.