In after times, the title Christian still continued. And although they were sometimes called Cornelians from Cornelius, Cyrillians from Cyrillus, and Joannitae from John Chrysostom, Eustathiani from Eustathius; yet they did not own these Names. And as Heresies began to rise up in many places, some teaching one thing, some another; the Christian that kept to the true Faith, that was constantly and universally believed in all the ages of the Church, beginning from Christ and the Apostles times, was called Catholic, or universal; in which sense he said, Christianus mihi nomen, Catholicus cognomen. So that to be a Catholic, was to believe that Faith which had been universally taught, first by Christ and the Apostles, afterwards by faithful men in all ages. And for the Papist to call himself a Catholic, when the Roman Church hath so manifestly degenerated from the Apostolical and Scripture Doctrine; and for them to make the Roman and the Catholic Church all one; is as absurd, as if a man should call London, or England, all the world. The Papist therefore is no Catholic in a true sense; because he cannot prove his Faith by the Apostolical Doctrine in the Scripture: yea, accuseth the Scripture as insufficient. And some of their learned men have confessed, that if they should try their cause by the Scripture merely, it was gone. I shall instance in one famous Name,1 given to such who truly own Christ and his Truths, and that is, Protestants. They were called thus, not many years since, in Luther's time; whereas the Orthodox had got some indulgence for the profession of their true Religion, ⟨p. 52⟩and pure worship. The Popish party did importune the Emperor of Germany, to make an Edict at Worms, and afterwards at Spires, That no Religion should be publicly professed and owned but the Roman. The Lutheran Party, both Noblemen and others, made a Solemn Protestation against that unjust Decree, and ever since all that reformed from Popery, have been called Protestants. So that all those, who have a compliance with Popery, that admire their way in their heart, or act by their principles, cannot truly be called Protestants. Thus you have heard the chief names by which Christians are called, And still after no mans name. And whereas Papists call us Lutherans, Calvinists, &c.
In after times, the title Christian still continued. And although they were sometimes called Cornelians from Cornelius, Cyrillians from Cyrillus, and Joannitae from John Chrysostome, Eustathiani from Eustathius; yet they did not own these Names. And as Heresies began to rise up in many places, some teaching one thing, some another; the Christian that kept to the true Faith, that was constantly and universally believed in all the ages of the Church, beginning from Christ and the Apostles times, was called Catholique, or universall; in which sense he said, Christianus mihi nomen, Catholicus cognomen. So that to be a Catholique, was to believe that Faith which had been universally taught, first by Christ and the Apostles, afterwards by faithfull men in all ages. And for the Papist to call himself a Catholique, when the Roman Church hath so manifestly degenerated from the Apostolical and Scripture Doctrine; and for them to make the Roman and the Catholique Church all one; is as absurd, as if a man should call London, or England, all the world. The Papist therefore is no Catholique in a true sense; because he cannot prove his Faith by the Apostolical Doctrine in the Scripture: yea, accuseth the Scripture as insufficient. And some of their learned men have confessed, that if they should try thir cause by the Scripture meerly, it was gone. I shall instance in one famous Name,1 given to such who truly own Christ and his Truths, and that is, Protestants. They were called thus, not many years since, in Luther's time; whereas the Orthodox had got some indulgence for the profession of their true Religion, ⟨p. 52⟩and pure worship. The Popish party did importune the Emperour of Germany, to make an Edict at Worms, and afterwards at Spires, That no Religion should be publickly professed and owned but the Roman. The Lutheran Party, both Noblemen and others, made a Solemn Protestation against that unjust Decree, and ever since all that reformed from Popery, have been called Protestants. So that all those, who have a compliance with Popery, that admire their way in their heart, or act by their principles, cannot truly be called Protestants. Thus you have heard the chief names by which Christians are called, And still after no mans name. And whereas Papists call us Lutherans, Calvinists, &c.
- 1Whence the name Protestant came.
