GReat Acquisitions are seldom made and maintained without great Art and Industry . A considerable part of this sublunary World , are wrought into a belief , That the Church of Rome is the only Oracle of the Universe , whose Doctrine is always true , and not capable of Error : how many Kings and Princes are swayed by this perswasion ? and by this means testifie a high Respect and Veneration for the See of Rome , who Commissionates her Emissaries , the Divines , Preachers , and Confessors , to inculcate this Doctrine to the credulous Believers all the World over ; and he who writes best on this Subject expects no less than a Cardinal's Cap , or a Bishoprick , for his Reward : The Divine Prints it , the Preacher promulges it , and the Confessor takes hold of opportunity , times , and seasons , to settle it in the minds of his Penitents . Princes have commonly Divines , Preachers , and Confessors of their own Subjects and Nation , to whose conduct they presume they may safely trust the regulating of their Consciences ; yet these Men , though never so Heterogeneal in Dialect and National differences , make but one complex , or collection , of the Popes Negotiators , whose main scope and design is to maintain and improve the Prerogatives of their great Master , by all the subtle arts and sedulous industry they are capable of : What plausible Arguments do they use to persuade people that their Church cannot Err ? and the illiterate Vulgar greedily swallow this Bait , which confirms them in their servitude and slavery , and makes them prompt to submit to all the Prescripts of the See of Rome , not regarding the arduity thereof .

And among other marks of the Popes greatness , this of Infallibility is chief ; for upon this Link hangs immediately his Supremacy , his Temporal pretended Power over Kings and Princes , &c. because these Titles are deduced from his being universal Pastor , which the non-erring Councils have declared him to be ; so that the Councils Infallibility is the Root of those Prerogatives , it is the main Pillar which supports the Magnificence and Greatness of the Church and Court of Rome , and if this should fail , that Superstructure would fall to utter Ruine and Desolation . This therefore is the great Bulwark which dreads no opposition ; this is the main Fort that still remains immoveable against all attempts ; this is the Ship of St. Peter , which though tossed and agitated upon the swelling Billows , by Raging and Tempestuous Storms , yet never sinks . Well may there be some attempts upon the out-works , by light Skirmishes and Velitations , in Controversies of less moment , which if by immediate Arguments they cannot repel , recourse may still be had to the main Fort , and if that begins to open upon the Enemy , by Thundring Infallibility in his Ears , Lord ! who can withstand it ? This will soon defeat him , and dissipate all his attempts .

But upon what grounds doth the Church of Rome arrogate to it self this high Character , First Proof . in exclusion of all others ? Why this is drawn from an irrefragable Testimony , it being grounded on the Promises of Christ himself ; for this is the Church to whom Christ hath promised , That the Gates of Hell should never prevail against it : This is the Church , to whom Christ's word is engaged to send it another Paraclite , the Spirit of Truth , that should lead it into all Truth . This is the Church to whom Christ said , I will be with you till the end of the World . And finally this is the Church , committed to the care of St. Peter , first Pope thereof , to whom Christ said , Thy Faith shall never fail , which is meant of all other Popes , that by a lineal descent succeed him . And who dare attempt to evacuate Christ's Promises ? Hence it comes to pass that the Bishops and Fathers assembled in a general Council , though of themselves weak and subject to Error , yet being the chief Members of the Church , for Doctrine and Dignity , and being the Representative of the whole , are render'd Infallible , as being backt by Divine Authority , by virtue of Christ's Promise ; they do not now determine matters of Faith , and dogmatical points , as meer Men , but are as it were Deifi'd , in order to this Function , by a supernatural quality , infused into them , and inherent in their Intellects , or else by a previous disposition , and concomitant operation of the Holy Ghost , which determines them to Truth , and protects them from Error : They are but the Organ to deliver Truth , but the Divine Oracle is the Dictator ; they are but the instruments which convey those Mysteries to the knowledge of Mankind , but the Spirit of God is the principal Agent ; so that th●● Canons and Decrees come from them full fraught with the Divinity , which renders them Infallibly certain ; for the Holy Ghost , every Session , attends the motion of those great Men , to regulate all their Proceedings by the never erring Rule of his infinite Veracity , whence it ensues , that to pick quarrels with their Definitions is a high Temerity ; it is to wage War with Heaven , or by the weak scrutiny of humane discourse , to examine the truth of such Mysteries as Heaven hath revealed ; which if they should contain any seeming Error or Contradiction , yet our understanding must adhere to them , as infallibly true , because our Reason is guided only by obscure Notions , and abstractive Acts , which draws in foreign Species by the mediation of the Senses , which give but a glimmering light to the Understanding , and often suggest Falsity for Truth : but the Decrees of Councils are sacred , and carry the Seal of the Holy Spirit enstampt upon them , by whose directions they are framed ; wherefore it is no less than a Sacrilegious Presumption , to Question the Truth of them , for this is to oppose Human Reason against Divine Authority . This is the substance of their first Proof , drawn from the Authority of Scripture , which at first appearance , seems great and glorious , a specious pretence to work upon the credulity of the ignorant Vulgar .

The second Proof is grounded in Reason ; but before we propose it , we must open the way , by putting the Reader in mind that the Divine Word , the Second Person of the Sacred Trinity , considering the deplorable condition of Mankind , by the Fall of Adam , resolved upon an efficacious Remedy , to assume Human Nature , and by an Hypostatical Union to be Phisically United , and become on with Flesh and Bloud , and in that Nature to suffer death , and thereby to offer to his Eternal Father an infinite Treasure of Merits and Satisfaction , to make an attonement between God and Man , and to satisfie for Mans transgressions , even to the rigor of Justice , because the satisfaction was made in the same specifical nature that offended , and it was made to the full equality of the Crime , because the Meritorious Cause thereof was a Divine Person , of infinite Dignity , and therefore his Actions were of infinite Worth . But because it was not permitted to every individual Person to draw from that infinite Mass of Satisfaction and Merit , in what measure he pleased ( this priviledge being reserved for the Pope alone to grant out of this stock by his Indulgences , what quantity , and to whom he deemed expedient ) therefore a Church must be ordained , and a method prescribed how to apply the benefit of Christ's Passion to each one in particular ; To this end our great Redeemer instituted Sacraments , to be the organs and vehicles to convey the Fruit of his Passion to the Receiver ; and this is secunda post naufragium tabula , whence the Church of Rome saith in her Publick Office , O felix culpa quae talem meruit Redemptorem .

This being supposed , The second Proof is grounded on this consideration , that the principal design of our Redeemer was to draw Souls to Heaven , notwithstanding the loss sustained by Original Sin , for to this end he offered his satisfaction , to this end he merited habitual and sanctifying Grace , transient and actual Graces , prevenient , concomitant , and subsequent Graces , to illuminate the Understanding , to move and incline the Will , to embrace Good , and shun Evil. Wherefore this being the end intended by Christ , it follows that apt and fit means were also appointed , that had proportion with the obtaining of this end ; but one necessary means to accomplish what Christ designed , is the Gift of Infallibility , without which the Church might fall into Error , and from one Error into another , and hereby deviate and swerve from its original institution , and at length utterly fall away , and instead of conducting Souls to Heaven , it would lead them to the precipice of eternal ruine and destruction , and so evacuate the Fruit of Christs Passion , and put an obstacle to the obtaining of that end which he efficaciously intended . And yet we must all suppose that the incarnate word was endu'd with an illimited Power , his Knowledge and Wisdom was infinite , so that he perfectly knew what means were necessary to accomplish his design , and wanted no Power to effect it , which notwithstanding could never be efficaciously attained , without this Infallibility ; whence it necessarily follows , that Christ communicated to his Church this special Preservative of always teaching truth , without being subject to Error . This briefly is the full strength of their second Proof .

Thus you see the grounds of this Doctrin are seemingly convincing , and plausible enough to induce such to an assent , who either cannot , or will not , by a studious consideration penetrate into the depth of them , but will rather acquiesce , than stretch their understanding by a rigid scrutiny and inquisition to detect the fallacy thereof . But certainly in a matter of such moment we are not to take up all this upon trust , nor blindly to give our assent , till we have industriously waighed and ponder'd the whole matter , that so we may be the better able to give an account of our belief , which is the drift of the subsequent Section .

THe Assertion is , That the Church of Rome enjoys not this Infallibility which they so much pretend to The first Proof , Such a previous necessity to Truth , would destroy Liberty , and take away the laudability and merit of human actions . Note , That in the progress of this Discourse I shall argue ad Hominem , that is , I shall take along with me their own Principles , and for the most part ground my Refutation upon them . They all grant Liberty and Merit in such human actions as have conformity to the dictamen of Conscience ; for in this consists the morality of our Actions , that they are consonant or dissonant to the synderesis of the Agent , but if an action be extorted by an antecedent necessity , there can be no exercise of Free-will , nor Merit in it , nor Liberty , because that Power only hath liberty , which after all prae-requisites and causes are put , hath a power to work and not to work ; whereas if there be a prae-ordination by Gods Decree , that the Members of a General-Council shall be determined to Truth , then their decisions are wholly destitute of Liberty and Free-will , because Gods efficatious Decree , that hath a previous influence upon the action , draws with it an indispensable necessity which destroys Free-will ; neither can it be meritorious , because Merit supposeth Liberty , and consists in the laudability of the action ; and how can that action be laudable , which a fatal necessity forces from the Will ? Can any one deserve Praise for doing that which he cannot avoid ?

Hence I conclude , that Merit and Free-will are not compatible with that Infallibility which the Church of Rome pretends to , which is inconsistent with Gods Providence , in order to Mankind , who was Created , and Born free , in full possession of the liberty of his will , and therefore shall be Judged according to his own Actions , which could not be , were there any necessity or restraint put upon them ; Thus we see how this doctrine inverts the order of Divine Providence , and imposes a necessity , either of contrariety , or contradiction upon Humane actions .

A confirmation of this Proof may be drawn from the practical proceeding of Councils , who seldom or never determine any thing till after a long and serious Debate , and sometimes with great fervor and animosity of Parties , in opposition to each other ( as it hapned in the Council of Trent ) upon contradictory Points , one Party Affirming what another Deny'd . All which supposeth a liberty in their debates and determinations ; for if by an Inspiration of the Holy Ghost , they were all fixt in Truth , What need any Debate or Consultation ? for this can only have place in such Resolutions as depend upon Humane Prudence alone . And if each Member of a General Council hath the immediate Assistance of the Holy Ghost , How comes it to pass , that when two are of different Opinions , the one Denies what the other Affirms ; and though they may both speak as they think , yet in reality they cannot both speak Truth , for two contradictories cannot be both true ; Must then the Spirit of God be made the Author of both ? as though he suggested Truth to the one , and Falsity to the other ? if not , then he that contends for the Erroneous part , is deserted by the Holy Ghost , and agitated by some other Spirit of the Prince of Darkness , which allways opposeth truth ; but hence it would follow , that Satan acts in General Councils , and that some of the Members of Councils are not inspired by the Holy Ghost , and consequently not Infallible .

The Second Proof is a Refutation of the Grounds of the Adverse Party . A Negative Tenet , as this is , cannot be better prov'd , than by shewing the falsity of the Affirmative Contradictory ; First then , as to their Argument drawn from Christ's Promises exprest in Scripture . I demand , Whence they have an Assured Infallibility , that Scripture contains the True Word of God ? They Answer , That this Infallible Church of Rome hath Defined it so to be , and proposed it to the People to be so believed . I demand again how they make out the Infallibility of their Church ? They Answer , By Christ's Promises in Scripture . A special Argument , no better than a plain vitious Circle ; for they prove the Infallibility of the Scripture , by the Church , and the Infallibility of the Church by Scripture ; and prove neither Independent of each other . By this way of Arguing Mahomet and his Alchoran may be prov'd Infallible . For the Alchoran saith , That Mahomet was inspired by God , who spoke in his eare in the forme of a Dove ; and Mahomet saith , That the Alchoran is the Word of God , manifested by Divine Inspiration ; therefore both Mahomet and the Alchoran are Infallible . This is the same Argument apply'd to another subject .

The Protestant Church of England hath as great a Veneration for Scripture , and as strong and firm adherence to it as any can have , yet are not so highly presumptuous as to arrogate to themselves a degree of Evidence , or Infallibility exceeding that which the Motives Inductive to their Beliefe bring with them : But I shall not need to insist upon the Invalidity of this Argument , because it hath lately been so Learnedly handled by that Worthy and Profound Dr. Edw. Stillingfleet Dean of Pauls , and Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty , against Mr. Edw. Worsley , a Learned Jesuite , then residing at Antwerp , who had formerly , for many years together , been a Reader of Divinity in the Jesuits Colledge at Liege , where he Taught the whole Body of Divinity , yet could never extricate himself out of this Labyrinth wherein Dr. Stillingfleet had involved him , by this Argument : to which I refer the Reader .

This Circle being therefore laid aside , let us examine if the Scripture Independent of the Churches Definition , bring with it this Infallibility or no. The Scripture is questionless of it self Infallible , but it is not so to us : for we have but a Moral certainty of the Infallibility of Scripture , and that it is truly , and à parte rei , the Word of God . The reason is , because though we admit that what the Prophets and Apostles have left Written , was truly dictated by the Holy Ghost , yet they who drew Copies from those Originals , wanted that support , they were meer Men , and carried their Humane Infirmities about them , and in after ages , as the Scripture was handed down to Posterity , the Amanuenses , by Ignorance , Malice , or Neglect , might commit some Error , either by excess , by defect , or by alteration , whereby their Copies might disagree with the Originals of the first Hagiographers , at least we have no Demonstration , nor Revelation to assure us of the contrary ; and when Printing came in , the same difficulty occurs , in relation to them that Corrected the Print . But when it was Translated into several Languages , the difficulty is yet greater ; for beside the former casualties , admit the Translator to be an exquisite Linguist , yet the Sense of Scripture is so very nice , that in his Translation he might innocently express , what the Holy Ghost by the Original never meant . Besides , that only part of Scripture is admitted , by both Churches , as the Word of God , which is Canonical , And what Infallible Rule have we to know , what part is Canonical , what Apocryphal ? Again , in that part that is received as Canonical , there are so many high Mysteries , some seeming contradictions , not pervious to the Natural capacity of Mans understanding to reconcile ; the several senses thereof are so various , some passages are to be understood Literally , some Morally , others Allegorically , some others Tropologically , or Figuratively . How many Volumes have been Written by the Learned in both Churches , to interpret the meaning and true sense of Scripture ? and in some places with Contradictions , and Oppositions , to each other , yet after all we fall short of any Infallible Certainty herein : for instance , there have been above Fifty several Senses given by Interpreters of that short Sentence , Hoc est corpus meum , This is my Body . And one Verse in the Psalms hath puzled the Learnedst of them all , viz. Increpa feras arundinis , Psal. 68. v. 30. congregatio taurorum in vaccis populorum , ut excludant eos qui probati sunt argento , in English thus : Rebuke the wilde beasts of a Reed ; the congregation of Bulls in the Cowes of the people , that they may exclude those that are tryed with silver . Instances of this nature are frequent in Scripture . Humane Tradition hath brought the Scripture down to these our times , yet Humane Authority is not Infallible , wherefore all these particulars being duly ponder'd , Where will the Romanists find that assured Infallibility which they pretend to ?

As for the Second Proof from the strength of Reason , we admit Christ's Omnipotence , Omniscience , his infinite Prudence , and Wisdom , with all other his Divine Attributes ; we also grant that our Redeemers Intention of being Incarnate , Suffering Death , &c. was to save the Souls of Men ; but this was to be consistent with , and subordinate to that state wherein the Almighty , by his infinite Wisdom and Providence , had placed Man in his first Creation , that is , with a full possession , and use of his Liberty and Free-will , which our Redeemer never intended to infringe , for that would subvert the Order of Gods former Providence : So that by the Fruit of Christ's Passion we are furnished with all necessaries to live a godly and a righteous Life , which without the Grace of Christ , would not be in our power to do , for bare Nature hath no proportion of it self to Merit , ne quidem de congruo , nor to any Supernatural Reward , as St. Augustine Teacheth , against the Pelagians and Massilienses : so that the Supernatural Graces that we receive by Christ's Merits , give us a power to do good , and shun evil , but impose no necessity upon us to lay hold of them , and improve them to our own good , for this depends upon our own free election ; therefore when we transgress against Gods Precepts , it is not for want of all necessary means to observe them , but it proceeds from the Pravity of our own Wills , which chuse rather to follow the suggestion of the sensual appetite , than submit to the conduct of Reason , and therefore are blameworthy , for we had the power to do good , and avoid evil , and would not .