Pasce Oves

X. A.
1854 The Catholic Layman  
Known as the Early Journal Content, this set of works include research articles, news, letters, and other writings published in more than 200 of the oldest leading academic journals. The works date from the mid--seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. We encourage people to read and share the Early Journal Content openly and to tell others that this resource exists. People may post this content online or redistribute in any way for non--commercial purposes. Read more about Early Journal
more » ... ntent at http://about.jstor.org/participate--jstor/individuals/early-journal--content. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not--for--profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. 1854.] THE CAThOLIC LATMAN.. 95 is drawn to vain, unprofitable, impertinent, yea, and a pernicious sense. I saw examples and miracles propounded, either false and feigned, or, at least, ridiculous and not worthy of credit. I saw the people miserably deceived; and the inventions of avarice and ambition superstitiously forced upon them, under colour of articles of faith. These things I was astonished toconsider; and, therefore, I resolved to leave those troubled streams, and to take myself to the fountains of the Fathers; in reading of whose works I began to delight, for sermons, and holy canons, and Church government. "' From this course, now and then, some beams of new light did shine into me, as yet unwilling and refusing; for, on the one part, I did observe the sayings of the Fathers in very many things, contrary to the common doctrine which I had learned in the schools, and I did perceive that they were either passed over in silence by my masters, or not faithfully quoted, or unfairly expounded. On the other part, I did see that the rule of Church government of our time was far different from the ancient practice, whereby my former suspicions were greatly augmented; and I perceived that we did not faithfully handle the doctrine and affairs of Christ and his Church ; but stuffed our theology rather with the inventions of human speculations and philosophy than with the words of Holy Scripture, of which there is a great ignorance amongst us. '6Afterwards, the holy ancient canons, the orthodox councils, the discipline of the Fathers, and the ancient customs of the Church, were, often and again, turned over by me. Whereto shall I say more? I found abundantly in these all I sought, and a great deal more than I sought. There it was easy, with opened eyes, to see that the doctrine of these reformed Churches, which are bitterly reproved and impugned by our theologians, did in little or nothing at all ditfer from the true and ancient doctrine of the pure Church. I did also perceive that their doctrine, both at Rome and amongst us, is abhored and repelled, rather than lawfully impugned; not that it is indeed heretical and false, but only because it is contrary to the corrupt sense and manners of the Court of Rome, and to her fleshly plots and inventions. I saw also, and perceived most clearly, that at Rome, without any lawful ground--yea, by extreme violence -innumerable new articles of faith were daily coined and forced upon us ; and that in such things as not only appertain not to divine faith, but also contain in themselves manifest falsehoods; which articles that corrupt Court will not suffer to be discused by any, but pursueth, even to the death, all those who dare whisper against them. It was formerly an article of faith that the Universal Church, dispersed through the whole worlt, is that Catholic Church of Christ, whereunto Christ himself doth promise his perpetual assistance. But now our Romanists have drawn this article of faith in lesser bounds; that the Catholic Church is now to be taken for none other than the Court of Rome. And it is propounded to be believed, that in it only, yea, and in the Pope alone, the whole spirit of Christ resideth ; and whatsoever of old time had been said for the honour of the universal Church of Christ, are, to the great injury of the Church, wholly applied to Rome. These things, among many others, have grieved me exceedingly. " What, then, should I do more in the midst of a wicked and forward nation? If I would have governed mine own Church according to the ancient discipline of the Catholic Church, and propound true and Catholic doctrine, I should, by that means, hasten upon mine head great stones, and horrible tempests from Rome. " The Church, under the Bishop of Rome, is no more a Church, but a certain human commonwealth, all of it under the Pope's temporal monarchy. It is a vineyard only to Iake Noah drunk. It is a flock which the shepherds do shear andl clip, even to the blood; yea, to excoriate and slay them. Albeit all these things did ever and earnestly persuade me to flee, yet, I do confess, I found the h:and-maid, IIagar, with her child Ishmael, for a long time trotullesonme to me. I nmean I heard my flesh rebelling against my spirit and reasoning after this manner-' Thou art come to great diglities and wealth, under
doi:10.2307/30065577 fatcat:zb2jcnphknfqjaqhzwwbes3g7q