But (they say) •he articles of Paris cannot climb over the Alps. It is some hundred years since Thomas Bradwardine of Canterbury, the hammer of the Pelagians cried to waken Simon Peter, that he might speak ⟨p. 216⟩out of his Council-chair for grace against the Pelagians. But Jesuits bellies and pens stout for their Father the Pope, think it wisdom that the Pope be deaf at the cries of Dominicans, who call for his holiness tongue to determine in bickerings betwixt their order and Jesuits in the matter of Grace, Predestination, Free-will, Gods providence. The Pope fearing a general Council, thinketh best that they rather blood other in the Schools, then that his greatness hazard to face the Court of a general Council; and therefore matters are now tried at home. Lod. Molina the Father of the new Science, the middle light with that wild heed fancied to be in God, was cited before Clemens the 8••, and holden in process five years, even before Paul the fifth, and the Cardinals, and when all was done, was whipped with a Toads stool, and nothing was determined,1 as saith Francis. de Ariba. Other Councils ordained that there should be in all places, Provincial and National Assemblies.2 So ordained the Council of Nice, 3Trulla, Africa, Sardis. Hence I add a third distinction:4 From this is concluded only that Councils are not necessary, but impossible, impossibilitate morali, non Physicâ: Councels are only morally impossible, not simply impossible, and that through mens corruption. It followeth not therefore they are not Gods ordinances: For seeing Churches independent are morally, and I fear, more then morally impossible, and have been hindered by Prelates, our brethren would not from hence conclude that they are not Gods ordinances. A Congregation of visible Saints where there is not an hypocrite, is unpossible morally, and cannot be because of our corruption; yet such a Congregation should be, and so is an ordinance of Christ. Let me also add the fourth distinction: Christ may well ordain that as a necessary mean of edification, which cannot be had ordinarily in the full perfection and degrees required, so it may be had in the degrees and parts, that may edify, howbeit not so well, and not so conveniently:
But (they say) •he articles of Paris cannot climbe oveer the Alps. It is some hundred yeares since Thomas Bradwardine of Canterbury, the hammer of the Pelagians cryed to waken Simon Peter, that he might speake ⟨p. 216⟩out of his Councell-chaire for grace against the Pelagians. But J•suites bellies and pennes stout for their Father the Pope, thinke it wisedome that the Pope be deafe at the cryes of Dominicanes, who call for his holinesse tongue to determine in bickerings betwixt their order and Jesuites in the matter of Grace, Predestination, Free-will, Gods providence. The Pope fearing a generall Councell, thinketh best that they rather bloud other in the Schools, then that his greatnesse hazard to face the Court of a generall Councell; and therefore matters are now tryed at home. Lod. Molina the Father of the new Science, the middle light with that wild heed fansied to be in God, was cited before Clemens the 8••, and holden in processe five yeares, even before Paul the fifth, and the Cardinals, and when all was done, was whipped with a Toads stoole, and nothing was determined,1 as saith Francis. de Ariba. Other Councels ordained that there should be in all places, Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies.2 So ordained the Councell of Nice, 3Trulla, Africa, Sardis. Hence I adde a third distinction:4 From this is concluded onely that Councels are not necessary, but impossible, impossibilitate morali, non Physicâ: Councels are only morally impossible, not simply impossible, and that through mens corruption. It followeth not therefore they are not Gods ordinances: For seeing Churches independent are morally, and I feare, more then morally impossible, and have been hindred by Prelates, our brethren would not from hence conclude that they are not Gods ordinances. A Congregation of visible Saints where there is not an hypocrite, is unpossible morally, and cannot be because of our corruption; yet such a Congregation should be, and so is an ordinance of Christ. Let me also adde the fourth distinction: Christ may well ordaine that as a necessary meane of edification, which cannot be had ordinarily in the full perfection and degrees required, so it may be had in the degrees and parts, that may edifie, howbeit not so well, and not so conveniently:
- 1Pra•. de Arriba in Th••l. spec in pref Concil Nicae. c. 6.
- 2Concil Trull. c. 8.
- 3Conc A•r•. c. 138.
- 4Concil. Sard c. 15.
