A09453:466
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.
Hitherto I have spoken of the commandment: now followeth the reason thereof drawn from the end, that they be not partakers of her sins: and that they receive not of her plagues. Here I might stand long to show what be the sins of the Church of Rome: but I will only name the principal. The first sin is Atheism: and that I prove on this manner. Atheism is twofold, open, coloured. Open Atheism is, when men both in word and deed deny God and his Word. Coloured Atheism is not so manifest: and it hath two degrees. The first is, when men acknowledge God the creator and governor of heaven and earth, and yet deny the father, son, and holy ghost. Thus the Ephesians before they received the gospel,1 are said to be without God whom in their natural judgement they acknowledged: because they denied Christ, and consequently worshipped an Idol of their own brain, in that they worshipped God out of Christ. And in this respect though the Samaritans worshipped the God of Abraham, yet our Saviour Christ saith, they worshipped ⟨p. 339⟩2they knew not what. And the Psalmist3 saith of all the Gentiles that their Gods are Idols. In this degree of Atheism are placed Turks and Jews at this day: the Anti-Trinitarians, and Arians, and all that conceive and worship God out of the trinity. The second degree is, when men do rightly acknowledge the unity of the god head in the Trinity of persons: yet so, as by other necessary consequents partly of their doctrine, and partly of the service of God: they overturn that which they have well maintained. And thus I say, that the very religion of the church of Rome is a kind of Atheism. For whereas it makes the merit of the works of men to concur with the grace of God, it overthrows the grace of God. Rom. 11. In word, they acknowledge the infinite justice and mercy of God: but by consequent both are denied. Howe can that be infinite justice, which may any way be appeased by humane satisfactions? And how shall Gods mercy be infinite, when we by our own satisfactions must add a supply to the satisfaction4 of Christ? Again, He that hath not the