图书图片
PDF
ePub

1

[ocr errors]

In the former Text concerning the Mafs this French Tranflation adds to the Words of their own Vulgar Latin as well as of the Original: But in this laft, the Vulgar Latin as well as the French fubftract from the Original, and both render this Text the fame way.

But, to do Justice to all, the Port Royal Bible delivers this Text from the grofs Interpretation put upon it, by means of a falfe Tranflation, to favour the worshipping of Wood.

In the other French Tranflation I mentioned before, made for the Ufe of the new Converts, this Expreffion 1 Cor. iii. 15. of fome that fhall be faved with great Difficulty, as if palling through the Fire, is boldly Rendred, the fire of Purgatory, as the Words of the Text, without any different Character, as is ufed with us when a Word is put in to make English of an Hebrew or Greek Idiom. But in this Louvain Tranflation the Text is let ftand, fo as by fire, only Purgatoire is put on the Margin in this Edition made fince the Objections against the other Tranflation, in which the Addition of Purgatory to this Text is particularly taken

notice of.

I could give your Lordship more of the Cor ruptions of Texts in the French Tranflations. I have now only named three, one for the Sacrifice of the Mafs, another for the Ado ration of the Crofs and of Images, and one for Purgatory.

L. The

[ocr errors]

L. The Church is not answerable for thefe Tranflations, however approved and recommended by Doctors, Universities, &c.

[ocr errors]

(17.) G. But the People are deceived by them. The People believe as they are taught. There is fmall Security to them in the Abftrufe Difputes concerning Infallibility, how far it extends, and where it is placed, and in the Disputes betwixt Popes and Councils about it. Thefe are Queftions of which I fuppofe your Lordship will eafily grant the Common People are no Judges. They know nothing of the matter. How fhould they, when the Learned Men are divided among themselves concerning them? So that this Infallibility, if it could be found and fixed, would be of little use to the Generality of the People, unlefs their Curates and their Fathers and Mothers who inftruct them, were likewife all of them, Infallible, for as I faid, they believe as they are taught, and examine no further. Nay, they are forbid to examine, for that implies a Doubt, and they are not to doubt of the Religion they are taught, but to receive, without any Doubt, what has been told them by their Curates, Fathers, Mothers, or Nurfes, and what is current in the Country where they live. This is all the Infallibility of which they are capable. And this is the way of all the Earth. It is thus that the Generality of, Mankind, whether Heathens, Jews, Mahometans, or Chriftians, receive their Religion. And

E

without

without examining into what we have been taught, no Man could change his Religion. None could ever have become a Chriftian, elpecially no few, who had the Authority of his Church against Christ, to which Church he alledges Promises of Perpetuity and Infal tibility.

18.) L. The Bishop of Meaux has cleared this in his Conference with Mr. Cloud. Where the Bishop afferts the Neceffity of a Living Infallible Judge always in being to direct Men. And fays, that when Chrift was come, He was that Living Judge, and fo the Authority of the Jewish Church was fu perfeded.

G. This is Gratis dictum and begging the Queftion of the few, as I have faid already, who upon the Authority of his Church, denies our Chrift to have been the Meffiah. I will not repeat, only afk these few Questions further. 1. Who was this Living Judge before the Flood? For the Bishop fays there must be always fuch an one in being. 2. Was Abraham, who was known only to a few Neighbours, and wrought no Miracles to convince others, was he, I fay, given as fuch al Guide or Fudge to the whole Earth? And Chrift was not fo great a Traveller as Abrabam. 3. Where was this Living Judge when Christ was Dead? And if there was none for three Days, it might be fo for three, or three hundred Years, or for good and all, because

[ocr errors]

the

the Argument fails for the Neceffity of fuch a Judge always in being. You will not fay the Church can fail for three Days. The Promifes of God can never fail, no not for à Moment.

L. Chrift founded His Church before He died, and left his Apoftles for Guides, chiefly Peter the Prince and Principle of Unity to them all.

G. And yet of the Apostles, one betrayed Him, another forfwore Him (and that was Peter) all forfook Him.

L. That was human Frailty, and Personal. But they retained the true Faith, they were in no Error as to that.

G. The greatest that could be, For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must ife again from the Dead. John xx. 9. And if Christ be not Raifed, your Faith is vain: ye are yet in your Sins, 1 Cor. xv. 17. And the Read fon given for choofing Matthias into the room of Judas was, That he might be a witnefs with the other Apofiles of the Refurrection of Chrift. Acts i. 22. And what Faith could they have in Him whom they had quite given over, and never expected to fee him more? They trufted thut it had been He who fhould have redeemed Ifrael, Luke xxiv. 21. But when He was Dead, all their Hopes were gone, they expected no Redemption from Him. This was far from a Chriftian Faith, and could there be a Chriftian Church without this Faith?

To avoid all this, and fecure the Promife of Indefe&tibility, to the Church, fome of your Authors of greatest Name have faid, that the Church was then preferved in the Virgin Mary. And thence infer that the Catholick Church may be preferved in one Woman, as it was then, and that fo it may be again, in the times of Anti-chrift, and the great Defection is foretold will be before the fecond Coming of Christ, when Faith (hall not be found upon the Earth, that is very hardly, when it may be confined to one Laick, a Woman, ora Baptized Infant, as others of your Doctors allow.

Bannes com.in Art. 10. Dub.i. 2.2. Quest. In

L. This is giving up the Church quite, as a Society, with Government, Difcipline, &c. and I hardly believe any of our approved Authors have faid fo much, and not been cenfured for it.

1

Y

[ocr errors]

G. They are no lefs Men than Alenfis, the Author of the Glofs upon the Decretals, Lyra, Occam, Alliaco, Panormitan, Turrecremata, Peter de Monte, St. Antoninus, Cufanus, Clemangis, Jacobatius, J. Fr. Picus, &c. And to fave Re petition, your Lordfhip will find their Books and Words quoted, in this fmall Treatife in my Hand intituled, The incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome, printed here 1688. p. 22. c. I name this little Tract, becaufe it is fhort, and will give your Lordship no great trouble, and proceeds upon the fame Argument I have undertaken with your Lordship, instead of the particular points in

Dispute

« 上一页继续 »