A09453:350
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.
The dissent.
Our difference stands in the manner of worshipping of Saints. The Papists make two degrees of religious worship. The highest they call Latria whereby God himself is worshipped▪ and that alone. The second lower then the former, is called Doulia, whereby the Saints and Angels that be in the special favour of God, and glorified with everlasting glory in heaven, are worshipped. This worship they place in outward adoration, in bending of the knee, and bowing of the body to them being in heaven: in invocation whereby they call upon them: in dedication of Churches and houses of religion unto them: in sabbaths and festival days: lastly in pilgrimages unto ⟨p. 248⟩their relics & images. We likewise distinguish adoration or worship: for it is either religious or civill. Religious worship, is that which is done to him that is Lord of all things, the searcher and trier of the heart, omnipotent, every where present, able to hear and help them that call upon him every where, the author and first cause of every good thing: and that simply for himself, because he is absolute goodness it self. And this worship is due to God alone, being also commanded in the first and second come mandements of the first table. Civill worship is the honour done to men set above us by God himself, either in respect of their excellent gifts, or in respect of their offices: & authority whereby they govern others. The right end of this worship is to testify and declare that we reverence the gifts of God, and that power which he hath placed in those that be his instruments. And this kind of worship is commanded only in the second table & in the first commandment thereof Honour thy father and mother. Upon this distinction we may judge, what ⟨p. 249⟩