An ansvvere to one question Wherevpon dependet[h] the resolution of all controuersies, doubts, and questions, which are, or can be made about matters of faith[.] Wherefore it is dilige[n]tly, & carefully reade, and duely pondered, after prayer made to God for the light of his grace, without which it cannot be rightly vnderstood in such sort as is fit. Permissu superiorum.

THE QVESTION .

WHether is it necessary , that there should be in all ages since Christ , a Visible Christian Church , hauing in it lawfully sent visible Pastours , and Doctours , teaching with Infallible Authority One and the same Infallible , sincere , and intire Faith of Christ , necessary to saluation ; without admixtion of any errour , proposed as deuine Truth , ( by addition , or detraction , or mis-interpretation ) contrary to the Doctrine first deliuered by our Sauiour and his Apostles , & which Church hath bin such ?

THE ANSWERE . It is necessary that one such Church be : and the Roman Catholicke Church only is such . For Declaration of the truth of this my Answere :

IT Is to be noted 1. That although Almighty God , by his omnipotent power could , by extraordinary meanes , breed infallible , supernaturall , Deuine , soule-sauing Faith in men , without vsinge the help of any visible Doctours , Pastours , or any other liuing creature . Yet if we speake , as we ought , according to the ordinary law , & course of Gods prouidence , manifested in the Holy Scriptures , and confirmed by Histories , and daily experience ; It is necessary , that there should be in all ages , some or other Visible Doctours and Pastours , or lawfully sent Preachers , authorised by Almighty God , and assisted by the Holy Spirit of Truth , promised for euer to be in the said Church , to teach it all Truth : For otherwise people of each age could not be sufficiently instructed , nor confirmed in Infallible certainty , and vnity requisite in soule-sauing Christian Faith : nor preserued from wauering in vncertainety , or wandering in errours , contrary to that One , Infallible , entire , and sincere Faith of Christ , which is necessary to saluation .

Note 2. That the Necessity of Doctors , and Pastors in the Church , is not only generally acknowledged by ancient Fathers , and all other learned Catholiques of this age ; but is also confessed by the Learneder sort of Protestants . Only Protestants deny , these Doctours , and Pastours , of whatsoeuer age after the Apostles , to haue Infallible Aucthority , although teaching with vnanimous consent , or with full Authority of a lawfully called , continued , and confirmed Generall Counsell ; vnlesse it be in points Fundamentall , or soe farreforth as they prooue out of Scripture . But Catholickes hold the Authority of the Church to be Infallible , in whatsoeuer point of Faith .

This therefore being the chiefe point in Question .

I will prooue , that there is Infallible Aucthority in the lawfully sent Doctors . Pastours , and Preachers of the Visible Church of Christ , soe farreforth as in any age after Christ they teach , and propose to people doctrine to be beleeued by deuine Faith , with vnanimous consent , or with there full Aucthority in any lawfully called , continued , and confirmed Generall Councell , whatsoeuer the point of Faith be , Fundamentall , or not Fundamentall , prooued out of Scripture , or not soe prooued .

This I prooue first by plaine texts of holy Scriptures .

My spirit which is in thee , Isa. 59.21 . and my word , which I haue put in thy mouth , shall not depart out of thy mouth , nor out of the mouth of thy seed , nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed , from benceforth for euer .

I will aske my Father , Ioan. 14.16 and he will giue you another Paraclete , that he may remaine with you for euer , the spirit of Truth .

When the spirit of Truth shall Come , Ioan. 16.13 he shall teach you all Truth .

Going teach all nations &c. taching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue Commanded you ; Matth. 28 19.20 . and behould I am with you , all dayes vnto the end of the world .

Preach the Gospell to euery creature and he that will not beleeue shall be condemned . Mare . 16.16 .

Hee that will not heare the , Math. 18 17. Church let him bee to the a Heathen and Publican .

Vpon the Chayre of Moyses Scribes , Math. 23.2 3. and Pharises haue sitten : all things therfore whatsoeuer they shall say to you , Obserue yee and doe .

Hee that heareth you , Luc. 10.16 heareth me he that despiseth you , despiseth me .

Obey your Prelates and be subiect to them for they Watch , Heb. 13.17 . as being to render accompt for your Soules .

The lipps of the Preist shall keepe Knowledg , Malach. 2.7 . and they shall require the Law out of his Mouth , because he is the Angell ( or Messenger ) of the Lord of Hostes .

He that shal be proud refusing to obey the Commaundement of the Priest , Deterom . 17. who at that time doth minister vnto the Lord , by decree of the Iudge , that man shall dye .

How shall they beleeue , Rom. 10.14.15 . whome they haue not heard ? How shall they heare without a Preacher ? How shall they preach , vnles they besent .

Hee hath giuen some Apostles , Ephes. 4. Some Prophets , and Euangelists , others Pastors , and Doctours &c. that we be not now little ones wauering , and Carried about with enery wind of Doctrine .

The Church of the Liuing God is the Pillar and Ground of Truth . 1. Tim. 3.15 .

Out of which texts I frame this argument .

THose to whome Almighty God hath promised the spirit of Truth , to teach them all Truth : and in whose mouth he hath placed his word , ( and this not for one , or two , or moe of the first ages after Christ , but for euer , & all dayes , vntill the end of the world ) making them his Legates , and Messengers ouer the whole world , and out of whose mouth people are to require his Law , in whome they are commanded to heare , beleiue , and obey , in whatsoeuer they teach , as if Christ Iesus himselfe did teach , and this vnder paine of Death , and eternall Damnation , and of being accompted as Heathens , and Publicans .

Those ( I say ) to whome such Promises are made , and such Authority is giuen by Allmightie God , without any Limitation , or restictiue Condition , must needs be thought to haue farre more Authority then any others , to whome no such Promise was made , nor Authority giuen , yea they must needes be thought to haue Infallible Authority , and to be a firme Pillar , and Ground of Truth , as S. Paul stileth the Church : soe as they neuer did , nor shall be permitted , to teach any errours by Addition , Detraction , or Misinterpretation of Gods Word , at least with vnanimous Consent , and when ( by a Visum est Spiritui Sancto et nobis , or some such like signe of vsing their full Authority ) they expresse themselues to teach ( as Gods Legats , Messengers , and lawfully sent Preachers , ) not thire owne Priuate inuentions , or opinions , but the publique Doctrine of God , and the Church . But to the Doctours , and Pastours of the Catholick Visible Church in all Ages these Promises were made , and this Authority was giuen without any Limitation , or restrictiue Condition , as appeareth by the Texts afore-cited .

Therefore the Authority of Doctours , and Pastours of the Visible Church in all ages is Infallible , in all points with vnanime consent , or by their full Aucthoritie , they teach to be deuine Truth , whether the poynt be great , or littell , Fundamentall , or not Fundamentall , or whether they bring proofe for that they teach out of Scripture , or not . For in the afoure said text there is no such Limitation of great , or little , Fundamentall , or not Fundamentall points of Truth : Nor any such reflrictiue Condition of proouing what they teach out of Scripture .

Seendly I prooue the same by Sentences of ancient Fathers .

First S. Irenaeus , S. Iren. l. 3. cap. 4. who liued in the next age to the Apostles , sayth . We ought not to seeke Truth from others , which we may easily receaue from the Church ; Sith the Apostles haue layd vp in it , as in a rich tresury , or storehouse , most fully those things which are of Truth &c. And a litle after to shew that this is not meant with onely Limitation of Fundamentall points he addeth saying : and if controuersie arise euen about some small questions , should we not haue recourse to the most ancient Church , in which the Apostles did Conuerse and take from them what is certaine , and cleare in this question . And further , to shew that it is not necessary that this Church must prooue euery thing she doth teach out of Scripture , he presently addeth : What if the Apostles had left vs no Scripture , ought wee not to haue followed the Order of Tradition ?

2. Tert. lib. de Praesiript . Tereullian saith : The order of things doth require , that this Question should first be propounded , to whome doth faith belonge ( as if he should say which is the true Church ? ) Whose are the Scriptures , from whome , by whome , when , and to whome , was the Discipline deliuered , by which we are made Christians , for where the trueth of Christian Discipline , and Faith shall appeare to be , there shal be the Trueth of Scriptures , and expositions , and all Christian Traditions . By which we may learne , that although to one , who doth beleeue Scriptures , we may out of them prooue which is the true Church , yet to proceed according to right order of things , the true ancient , & alwaies Visible , continued Church , is to be found first ; and from the true Church we must finde which be true Scriptures , which true Expositions , and all true Christian Traditions .

3. S. Cyprian saith : S. Cyprian . lib. 1. c. 3. That from no other roote do Herisies and Schismes springe , but from this , that men doe not obey the Priest of God , neither do consider , that in the Church there is on Priest , and one Iudge for the time in steed of Christ .

4. S. Basill saith : S. Basil . lib. de Spiritu sancto . c. 27. The Doctrines which are in the Church now proposed and Preached , we haue partly from the written Doctrine , partly from the Traditions of the Apostles , brought vnto vs in mistery , both which are of like force to piety .

5. S. Chrsyost . vpon these words . 2. Thess. 4.14 . S. Crysostome vpon those wordes , hold the traditions &c. saith : Hence it is euedent , that the Apostles did not Deliuer all in writing , but many thinges without writing , and that the one , and the other are a like worthy of Credit .

6. S. August . lib. contra epistolam fun damenti . cap. 5. S. Augustine attributeth so much to the Authority of the Church , that he saith : I would not beleeue the Gospell it selfe , if the Authority of the Church did not induce me . And speaking of a poynt which could not be prooued out of Scripture , Lib. 1. contra Crescon . c. 32. or 33. he saith : The Truth of Scripture is holden by vs , when we do that which pleaseth the whole Church , which the Authority of the same Scriptures doth commend , & because holy scripture cannot deceiuen , whosoeuer is afraid to be deceiued with the obscurity of this Question : Let him aske the Iudgment of the Church , which without all ambiguity the holy Scripture doth Demonstrate . Epist. 118. c. 1. And in his Epistle , he affirmeth : That it is most insolent madnes to dispute against that which the Church doth vniuersally practize . See Saint , Augustine de vtilitate credendi cap. 10. vsque adsinem libri . S. Vincentius Lirinensis in his goulden treatise against he resie . c. 1.

Lastly S. Vincentius Lirinensis liuing neere to S Augustines time first aduiseth ( as a Rule to Discerne , and to preserue vs from heresy ) to Ioyne the authority of the Catholick Church , her Tradition , and Interpretation to the written Word of God , in regard the height of Scripture is such , as euery man doth not take it in one , and the same sense , but so many sensuall men , so many sensuall senses of it may be made . And he assureth , that this Church of Christ is so diligent and wary a keeper of Doctrine , Deliuered as a sacred Depositunn vnto her , that nihil in his permut at , nihil minuit , nihil addit , she neuer chaungeth any thing ( to wit , by misinterpretation of the sense and meaninge of any point of Faith ) . nor diminisheth any thing ( to wit , by Denying what was once held for a point of Faith . ) nor addeth anie thing ( to witt , by affirming any thing to be a Deuine Truth , which was no at first for such Deliuered by Christ , & his Apostles . ) And a little after he sheweth , that although it may seeme , that the Church in the Decrees of her Counsels may haue made some addition , or change : yet indeede the addition , or change is not in substance , or in sense , but only ( being excited by nouell Heretiques , ) she setteth downe in writinge what from our Elders shee receiued by only Tradition , and the better to expresse in words what was infoulded in ancient Beleife , she somtymes giueth to an old article ( not a new sense , but ) a new name , as for example , the Conncell of Nice added the word Consubstansttiall , and the Lateran Councell , the word Transubstantiation , with out any mutation of the Sense of the Article .

3 I prooue the same Verity by these ensuing plaine reasons .

The first Reason .

If the Authority of the Church be not Infallible , but ( as the Authority of other men ) onely fallible , and such as may erre , and hath erred , in any one point proposed as a deuine Truth , by Vnanimous Consent , or ful authority of it . It will follow , that we neuer haue , nor can haue , ( according to the ordinary Course of Gods prouidence , anie Infallible certainty of any other Point of our Faith proposed by the Vnanimous Consent , or full Authority of the same Church . For if it can erre , and hath erred in any ponit so Deliured ; we may iustly feare , and haue no assured ground to assure , that she teacheth Infallible Truth in any of the rest . As S. Augustin sayth of holy Scrirture , if we once admit any vntruth to be in any one parte of it , we shall thereby take away all infallible authority , and credit from it in all the rest .

But if we neyther haue , nor can haue Infallible certainty of any point proposed , as deuine Truth by vnanimous consent , or full authorite of the Church , we can haue no Deuine fayth at all : Rom. 10. Eph. 4. for sith as S. Paul signifieth ; Deuine Fayth cometh by heraing the Word of Christ ; preached by those onely , who are lawfully sent ( as are those Doctours and Pastours lineally desceding from Christ , and his Apostles , which by Christ his appointment must be allwayes in the Church ( If we can not haue Infallible assurance , by hearing these Doctours , and Pastouis in any poynt they teach , we can haue noe Deuine Fayth at all ; for this requireth Infallible assurance . Therfore , If the Authority of the Church or the Doctours or , Pastours thereof be not Infallible in proposing , and teaching Deuine Truth in whatsoeuer , euen in the least poynt , we can haue no Infallible assurance in any other poynt of Deuine Truth , nor any Deuine Faith in whatsoeuer point allthough most necessary to saluation .

The 2. reason .

IF we that liue now , had neuer hard of Christ , or his Apostles , or their Preaching , or writing Deuinely reuailed Truths , necessary to Saluation : or had onely heard of them one , or moe , but such as weare commonly , knowne to tell nothing but fictions , and lyes ; we could not at least according to the ordinary course of deuine Prouidence beleeue these necessary points at all ; yea although we had heard of these , by some one , or moe honest men , who sometymes speake true , sometymes false , the most we could doe were to assent vnto these things , by a probable , yet weake , and fallible opinion , or humane faith . Therefore to assent vnto these things , by an absolute , sure and Infallible Iudgment of Deuine Supernaturall faith ; It is needfull , that these Doctours and Pastours of the Church , by whose teachinge we are by the ordinarie course of Gods Prouidence to learne them by men , not only sent , but also Infallibly assisted by God , and that partly with naturall , or at least with Supernaturall guifts , this their Authority may Sufficiently be made knowne to be such , as may Iustly moue men to a supernaturall , Deuine , and Infallible beleefe . For although . these things be ( as they are in all the foresaid cases ) in themselues infallible , & Deuine Truths ; yet they do not breede in vs Infallible , supernaturall , and Deuine beleefe , vntill they be applyed to our vnderstanding , by a meanes hauinge in it a due Proportion of Deuine , supernaturall , and Infallible Authority . Sith therefore This ordinary meanes , which by Gods appointment , is to apply these Truths to our vnderstanding ; is no other , besides the teaching of the Doctours , and Pastours of the true , continually Visible , Catholique Church . It must be granted , that they haue an Infallible , Supernaturall , and Participatiue Deuine Authority in their teaching , so long as they teach with Vnanimous consent , and conformable to that , which is Authorized Doctrine of the Church .

The Third Reason .

IF there be not Infallible Authority in the Pastours of the Church , in Proposing deuine Truths , by vnanimous Consent or by there full Authority : it is ( at least morally ) Impossible , that Vnity of Faith soe much commended , 1. Cor. 1.10 . ●phes. 4.3.45 . ●●●llpi . 2.2 . Gel. 5.20 . and required so much to be amongst Christians , should be preserued , or that Heresies , & Schismes , so much fpoken against , both by Scriptures , & Antient Fathers , could be preuented , or taken away . For sith words , of Scriptures , do not expresse all matters pertaining to Faith , ( as namely ) which Bookes be Canonicall Scripture , which Apocriphall , which in doubtfull , and not euident causes , is true , and Infallible translation , and which is the Infallible sence of the wordes of the holy text , and which taxts those be , which containe points of doctrine Fundamentall , or necessary for all sorts to know , & Beleeue expressely . ) Sith also about seeming plaine words of Scripture euen containing points necessary to be knowne , and beleeued expresely , there haue bin , and daily doe , or may arise questions , or Coutrouersies euen amongst learned men , about the sence ; Some houlding it necessary to saluation to take the words in this , others in a contrary sence . If there be not an Infallible Aucthority in the Church to instruct men Infallibly in the right sence , and to deside controuersies arising about the sence ; How it is possible that men should submitt these there different opinions to some other mans Iudgment in matters of such moment , as is eternall Saluation , or Damnation , when each man is , by nature apt to apprehend , that to be truest , which seemeth so to his owne witt and vnderstanding , and that to be securest , which being sutable to his owne apprehention , seemeth to be confirmed by ( to-him-seeming-plaine ) words of deuine Scripture , as euery sensuall sect maister apprehendeth his opnion to be confirmed by some or otheir ( to-him-seeming-plaine ) wordes of deuine Scripture .

Other Reasons might be added : But by these it is playne enough , that the Authority of the perpetuall Visible Church , is not onely such , as is of other priuat men , who do not Ordinarily erre in points of Faith , Fundamentall , and necessary to be knowne of all sorts , or in such points which they can euidently prooue out of Sripture : but that it is obsolutly Infallible , and neuer did , doth , or shall erre , at least with Vnanimous consent , or when it teacheth by her full Authority , in whatsoeuer point Fundamentall , or not Fundamentall , prooued , or not prooued by Scripture .

Which being so : you may plainly see , supposing there cannot ( as there cannot ) be assigned anie other True Visible Church , in all Ages since Christ , different from the Roman , which can , & doth shew it felfe to haue beene (✚) (✚) See 〈…〉 … bula 〈…〉 al●o S. 〈…〉 Cata … in the A●p●●dix to th● Antido●● . Visible , and teaching without change the Faith of Christ in all Ages . You may see ( I say ) First how safely you may rely vpon the Authority of the Roman Church , and noe other in whatsoeuer point , pertaining to Christian Faith , and Religion , espcially when euen best learned Protestants do grant that (†) (†) See Protestants Apology Tract . 1. Sect. 6. Saluation may be had in it . 2 How vniustly Protestants pretend cause of there seperation from her , to haue bene that she hath changed her first faith , ether by Addition , Detraction , or Misinterpretation of any point of Faith , especially necessary to saluation . Thirdly , how needfull it is for those who ( either for one reason , or other ) remaine seperate from the Faith , Vnity , and obedience of the Roman Church , to returne with speed into the Vnity of the Roman Church , as the doue into Noe his Arke , in regard there is noe other place , whereupon they may safely rest the feete of their Faith , & Conscience , or where in they can abide with out danger of being drowned in eternall Damnation . For out of the true , infallible , all wayes Visible Catholicke , ( which is onely the Roman ) Church . There is noe communion of Saints , no remission of Sinnes , no saluation of Soule to be hoped for . And what 〈◊〉 it profit a man to gayne all the wo●●● with losse , or hasard of the losse of Eternall Saluation of his Soule .

I will therefore conclude with t●●… Dilemma drawne out of a discourse S. Augustine . If there be no Prouider of God in human matters , then a m●● neede not indeuour to be of a right Religion , nor care whether he be of this or that , or any Religion at all . But i● there be a deuine Prouidence ( as all but Atheists do confesse , and these also may be conuinced to beleeue by the greatnes , multitude , beauty , variety , and order which is seene in the whole world , and by the secret instinct ingrauen in the hartes of all , euen most barberous people , and felt somtimes , especially in daunger of death , euen by Atheists them selues . ) Then it is not to be doubted but that there is by deuine prouidence ordained some on , or other certaine , and Infallible Authority , vpon which , as vpon a sure Step we may rely for finding out that one Infallible , and entire true Faith , and Religion , in which God is Pleased to be serued of men , and without which it is Impossible , that God should be pleased , or men doe to him that duty , for which they were created , or attaine that happy End , vnto which they were ordained .

But among all Authorities ordained by Almighty God for this purpose , there is none greater , and more worthy to be credited , then the Authority of the Catholicke Romane Church , which euen by Confession , or acknowledgment of Makind hath beene esteemed to haue highest Authority from the Apostolicall Seate , & by succession of Bishops , while Heretiques haue in vaine barcked round about it , & haue ben condemned partly by the Iudgment of the people , partly by the grauity of Counsels , partly by the Maiesty of Miracles . To which Authority not to yeald principality is huge impiety , or headlong arrogancy .

Therefore it is not to be doubted , but the Authority of the Catholicke Roman Church is Infallible , and that vpon it , as vpon a sure stepp we may rely , or finding out that One Infallible entire Faith , and Religion which is necessary to Saluation .

FINIS .