A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all…A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all…

CHAP. IX.

Argum. 7. TO the foregoing Arguments, I add the recital of one formerly mentioned, for the use of all that have the use of their wits and senses.

If a man may be sure, that he knows bread to be bread, and wine to be wine, when he seeth, feeleth, and tasteth them, then he may be sure that Popery is a deceit. (This Consequence they cannot question) But a man may be sure that he knoweth bread to be bread, and wine to be wine, when he seeth, feeleth, and tasteth them: therefore, &c.

Note that I speak of such a knowledge as belongs to men of sound wits and senses, and a convenient object and medium. It is the senses of the whole world that I appeal to, and not of one or two: it is bread and wine that are near us, in the hand or ⟨p. 33⟩mouth that I speak of, and not at a miles distance: in the daylight, and not in the dark. So that take the bread and wine into your hand, and judge of it, and let this decide our Controversy. If you can tell whether that be bread or no bread, you may tell whether the Papists or we are in the right. Those therefore that be not learned and subtle enough to judge by Disputations and writings of Learned men, may yet judge by their sight and feeling. Either you know bread and wine when you see it, taste it, feel it, or you do not. If you do, then the Controversy is at an end: for the senses of all sound men in the world, will be against the Papists that say the bread after Consecration is no bread, and the wine is no wine. But if you cannot know bread when you see, feel, and eat it, then see what follows. 1. Then we are sure that the Pope and all his Council are not at all to be trusted: for if sense be not to be trusted, then the Pope and his Council know not when they read the Scripture, and Canons, and Fathers, and hear Traditions, but that they are deceived. 2. Then we are uncertain of any Judgement that Pope or Council can give: for when they spoke or wrote it, we are uncertain whether our eyes and ears, or reason judging by them, are not deceived in the hearing or reading of their words. 3. How ridiculously then do they call for a Judge of Controversies? and what a foolish quarrel is it that they make, who shall be the Interpreter of Scriptures, or Judge of Controversies? For what can a Judge do but speak or write his mind? and when he hath done, you know not what it is that you hear or read, because your senses may deceive you. Its a far harder matter to understand a sentence or book of the Pope or Council when you read or hear it, then to know bread when you see, and feel, and eat it. Many thousands know bread, that know not the Popes sentence, nor a word of a book. 4. And by this rule, it is uncertain whether Scripture be true, or Christianity the true Religion. For we cannot know it but by our senses: and if they are so uncertain, all our Religion must needs be uncertain. 5.