world that should impose them : and therefore they of all men are the most notorious schismatics that can be imagined. And I beseech God to open their eyes to see it, and to recover into the <

way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived;" that those who have hitherto been obstinate may “prove all things ;"

"* and that those who can be persuaded to consider these things may “hold fast that which is good.”

“ And the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus.

“ That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”+ Amen.

EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINES

CONTAINED IN THE

NEW CREED OF POPE PIUS IV.

THE CREED OF POPE PIUS IV.

OR A

PROSPECT OF POPERY TAKEN FROM THAT AUTHENTIC RECORD.

With short Notes.

The words "representing” and “misrepresenting” have of late made a great noise among us ; some gentlemen of the Roman communion having made it their business to persuade the world that we, of the Church of England, have entertained a very strange and false idea of their religion, and, according to our own notions of it, represented it as theirs, which, they tell us, is downright misrepresenting. It is not my design to engage in this controversy, it hath been sufficiently done by other hands, and so sufficiently, that the Answerer, in his Answer to the Amicable Accommodation, I think, had good reason to say, that the matter was drove as far as it would bear. Nor is it my intent to justify everything, which, in heat of discourse or disputation, hath been charged upon that Church by some of our own men; for though perhaps they have said no more than what they have warrant for from some eminent schoolmen or casuists of that Church, yet I do not think it reasonable that the particular opinions of private men, though never so eminent in their way, should be charged upon the whole society of which they are members, unless they have been owned by some public and authentic act of that society. Being unwilling, therefore, to run myself upon that rock, I have steered another course, and have made choice of one of the most solemn, public, and authentic acts of their Church, viz. the bull of Pope Pius IV., printed with the Acts of the Council of Trent, and shall charge nothing upon them, but what is owned and contained therein. This bull was dated at Rome in the year of our Lord 1564, in the ides of November, and the fifth year of his pontificate. In this bull a form of faith is drawn up, extracted out of the Council of Trent, which every one who enters into holy orders, is bound by oath not only to believe, but to maintain and defend, and teach the people under their charge, and that under pain of the displeasure of Almighty God, and of his holy Apostles Peter and Paul. And if we may not take this for the standard of their faith and religion, I must confess I do not know where to find it. But I do not know that this ever was, nor do I think it will now be disowned by them; and therefore from hence you may take a prospect of their religion, and see what it is that will be required of those who join in communion with them.

THE CREED.

Article I. I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

II. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

III. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

IV. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. V. And the third day rose again according to the Scriptures.

VI. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

VII. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

VIII. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.

IX. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church.
X. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
XI. And I look for the resurrection of the dead.
XII. And the life of the world to come. Amen.

Thus far his Holiness thought fit to hold a good correspondence with primitive Christianity, and thus far we can keep pace with him all these Articles we willingly receive, and firmly believe, because we have good warrant from the holy Scriptures so to do. But if the Church of Rome, or any other Church, shall presume to decree anything against the written word of God, or besides the same, and impose it as a new article of faith, necessary to be believed in order to our salvation, we must beg their pardon, if we cannot so readily comply with them. For as we believe that Jesus Christ is the author, so we believe he is the finisher of our faith : and as he perfectly knew the whole mind and will of his father, so did he carefully communicate the same to his apostles and disciples ; “ For, saith he, “all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you,” John xv. 15. And as we believe that the Apostles were instructed and commissioned by him to preach that faith which they received from him ; so we have no reason to doubt, but that they did faithfully transmit the same to their successors the primitive fathers of the Christian Church ; nor need we to question but that the same faith hath been carefully conveyed to us, both as it lies dispersed in the holy Scriptures, and as it is summed up in those three ancient Creeds, vis. the Nicene, the Athanasian, and that commonly called the Apostles' Creed. Whatsoever therefore we do not find in these Creeds, nor contained in holy Scriptures, nor can be proved thereby, we dare not receive it as an article of faith, nor can we think it necessary to salvation. And here we are left behind, not being able any farther to keep pace with the Church of Rome; but we may comfort ourselves in this, that we are left in good company, having Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and the primitive fathers with us. Here therefore let us take up our stand, and from hence take a view of Popery in the following Articles. Continuation of their Creed.

Notes upon it. Article XIII. I most Ecclesiastical traditions are to be firmly admit and em- received with equal veneration as the brace apostolical and holy Scripture. Sess. 4. Concil. Trid. ecclesiastical tradi- Decr. de Canon. Script.pari pietations, and all other tis affectu ac reverentia, &c. observations and constitutions of the same Church.

a

XIV. I do admit By the holy mother Church you the holy Scriptures in must be sure to understand the Church the same sense that of Rome; and if the Scriptures do not holy mother Church speak according to her sense, you must doth, whose business it by no means admit of them. is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of them; and I will

I interpret them according to the unanimous consent of the fathers. XV. I do profess

You must by no means ask quesand believe that there tions here, as, in what part of the are seven sacraments New Testament may I find that of the new law truly Christ did institute these seven sacraand properly so called, ments ? Or, where may I meet with instituted by Jesus the promise annexed, by virtue of Christ our Lord, and which they do confer grace? Or, necessary to the salva- where and when did our Lord make tion of mankind, though all these necessary to salvation ? not all of them to every These are idle and frivolous questions ; one, viz. Baptism, Con- you must believe as the Catholic firmation, Eucharist, Church believes, and do as she doth; Penance, Extreme Unc- but by Catholic Church you must be tion, Orders, and Mar- sure always to understand the Roman riage ; and that they Church, though, in so doing, you bedo confer grace; and lieve a part to be the whole. that of these, Baptism, Confirmation and Orders, may not be repeated without sacrilege. I do also receive and admit the received and approved rights of the Catholic Church in her solemn administration of the above-said sacraments.

XVI. I do embrace Though St. Paul call concupiscence and receive all and sin, yet you must not do so. Decret. every thing that hath de Peccat. Origin. Sess. 5. Conc. Trid. been defined and de- Though Christ tell you, that when