An Appeal to Calvin's Tribunal, as to the Hierarchy, Liturgy, and Ceremonies of the Church of England.

OR

Thomas Long's Calvinus Redivivus

COMPENDIZ'D.

Calvin's Sentiments of the Creed in general, and of Two Articles in particular.

I

Find it to be pernicious beyond Measure, that Men do so presume of their own Judgments, as to think all their Opinions firm and true, before ever they weigh them, and are fo confident as to refufe Communication with learned Men. As to the Creed, which I alfo call the Apoftles, not troubling my felf with the Au+ thor of it, I find, by a great Agreement among the Ancients, it is certainly afcribed to the Apostles; whether they thought it to be written and delivered by the Apostles in common, or because they thought to confirm, by fuch an Appellation, that Summary of Faith, which was fincerely collected out of the Doctrine by them delivered. For I do not in the leaft doubt, from whomfoever it first came, that from the very first Infancy of the Church, and fo in the very Age wherein the Apostles lived, it was received as the publick Confeffion, approved by the Confent of all: Nei ther is it probable,that it was written by any private Man; forafmuch as it appears from the very first Records, that it was efteemed to be of facred Authority among all good Men.

Calv. Epift. 303. Inftit. L. 2. C. 6. s. 18.

Calvin's Senfe of that Article of the Creed, The Holy Catholick Church,

IN

and the Communion of Saints.

'N the Creed, where we do profefs to believe the Church, it is not fufficient, that I believe the Company of God's Elect, unless I apprehend fuch an Unity of the Church, into which I am verily perfwaded, that I am ingrafted and made a Member of the fame. For this Article of the Creed belongs to the external or vifible Church, that every one may contain himself in a brotherly Agreement with all the Children of God, giving to the Church it's due Authority, and behaving himself as a Sheep of that Fold; And therefore is that Article of The Communion of Saints, adjoined; which intimates, that the Saints are gathered unto the Society of Chrift, to this End, That whatever Bleffings God bestoweth on them, fhould be communicated to each other. Now this Communion with the Church, brings us into the Society of God; and how profitable and neceffary the Knowledge of this is, the very Name of Mother, given to the Church vifible, may teach us, feeing there is no other way of entering into Life, unless the form us in her Bowels, and nourish us with her own Breafts, and unless we live under her Tuition and Government, until we lay afide Mortality. For out of the Embraces of this Church, no Remiffion of Sins is to be hoped, nor Salvation to be had. In many Places of Scripture, the fatherly Love of God is reftrained to His Flock; fo that the Departure from that, is always deftructive: For God has obliged us to His ordinary Manner of Teaching, which while Fanatick Men do refufe, they involve themselves in many deadly Snares; and they are devilish Spirits that study to destroy the Unity of the Church.

'Lib. 4. C. 1. S. 72. S. 3. S. 4. f. 37. 32. Joel 2. 32. Ezek. 13. 9. Pfal. 106, 4. S. 5. S. 9.

Cale

Approve of thefe Marks of the vifible Church: First, Pure Doctrine. Secondly, The right Ufe of the Sacraments. And, Thirdly, a Holy Unity depending there

upon.

Calv. de vera Ecclef. Reform. P. 322.

Calvin's Judgment of fuch Parochial Churches as are now conflituted in the Church of England.

THO

Hofe Congregations that are fettled in Towns or Villages (as human Neceffities do require) have juftly both the Name and Authority of a Church, as being in Communion with the Church Univerfal; and to defpife the Authority of fuch a Church, to fcorn her Admonitions, to be refractory to her Counfels, and mock at her Corrections, is not without Guilt, much lefs to feparate from it, and break it's Unity: For God doth fo value the Communion of His Church, that He judgeth him an Apoftate from Religion, that fhall contumaciously withdraw himself from the Society of fuch a Church; and no Crime can be conceived greater than fuch facrilegious Unfaithfulness, whereby we violate that Covenant which the Son of God vouchfafed to make with us. Therefore thofe Things which God hath joined, no Man may feparate, viz. That to whom he is a Father, the Church alfo be a Mother. Where ever there is a Minifter rightly conftituted, who faithfully dischargeth his Office, every one that will be accounted a Chriftian, ought to adhere to him, and to enjoy his Mini ftry with the rest of the Flock: But what do they? Because we follow not them in their Errors, altho' we purely preach the Word of God, they account us as ravenous Wolves; and they fo abhor us, that they think they fhould commit a deadly Sin, to be prefent at our Sermons; therefore they create inferior Minifters, and being made in a Moment, are imployed to rend the Church, divide the People, and gather Congregations contrary to one another, that the Name of God may not be invocated with the joint Confent of all, and with that Concord which becomes it.

Calv. Inft. 1. 4. C. I. S. 9. S. 10. Inft. L. 4. C. I. S. 1. Calv. contra Anabapt.

his

Calvin's Refolve anent Proteftant Bibops, particularly acknow ledging the Romish Church to be true one.

Λ

I Granted to Cardinal Sadolet, that the Churches under his Jurifdiction were the

Churches of Chrift, and the Reason of my Judgment in this Particular I have given at large in my Inftitutions. The Sum whereof is this. No Man well in his Wits, ever held that Chriftianity was quite extinguished, wherefoever the Romish Tyranny did prevail: Whence it follows, That in fome Refpects there is a Church yet remaining. As in Ifrael when Idolatry prevail'd under Jeroboam and Rehoboam, good Men had a tolerable Estate of a Church for Circumcifion, and the Law, and Sacrifices, and Invocation of God remained: So I willingly grant, that in Rome God hath preferved fome Footsteps of a Church, as when a Building is demolifhed, the Foundation and Ruines remain: Befides, how elfe fhould we prove the Pope to be Antichrift, unless we grant him to fit in the Temple of God, as the Prophets foretold he fhould? For his Kingdom doth not abolish the Name of Chrift or of a Church; God hath there preferved fome Remnants of his People, and Symbols of his Church, which the Subtilty of the Devil, nor the Impiety of Men could not deftrov; however, they are fo miferably prophaned, corrupted, poifoned, that they want the lawful Form of a Church properly fo called.

Calv. ad Sadolet. Lib. 4. C. 2. S. 9, 10, 11, 12. Dan. 9. 27. 2 Theff. 21 45

Cal

Calvin's Opinion of those who communicate in the Ordinances of God with with

ked Men.

THE

HE Church of God is called holy, but not perfect; Chrift is and will be ftill purging of it, until he prefent it without Spot and Wrinkle. You hear the Parable of the Net, and of the Tares, and of the Chaff, by which our Saviour thows, that there will be a Mixture of good and bad in the Church, to the End of the World. For a full Answer to this Queftion, confider the Church of Corinth, among whoi there were not a few that erred, but Polution had almost over-run the whole Body: There was not one Kind of Sin but many; nor were they light Errors,but certain horrid Enormities: There was not only Corruption of Manners, but of Doctrine. What doth the holy Apoftle in this Cafe, who was the Inftrument of the Holy Ghost; at whose Testimony the Church ftands or falls? Doth he endeavour Separation from them? Doth he expel them from the Kingdom of Chrift? Or ftrick them with the fatal Thunderbolt of an Anathema? He doth not only forbear thefe Methods, but he both owns and declares them to be a Church of Chrift; and a Society of Saints: If there were a Church in Corinth, where contentious Sects and Emulations were fo hot, where Strife and Brawling with covetous Defires did where a Wickedness grow, abominable (even to the Heathen) was publickly approved, where the Name of Paul was wantonly abufed, whom they ought to have reverenc'd as a Father, where fome laughed at the Refurrection of the Dead; with the Denial of which the whole Gospel fell: Where they ferved Ambition, not Charity; where mot Things were acted indecently and inordinately (and yet it remains, the Miniftry of the Word and Sacraments was not to be refufed.) Who dares to take from them the Title of a Church, where the tenth Part of fuch Vices cannot be faftned? To feparate from a Church for this Reason, as it is a Sin to which we are prone, fo it is a fubtle Device of the Devil. There have ever been fome, who being conceited of their own Holiness, as fo many aerial Spirits, defpife the Communion of all, in whom they perceive any human Infirmities: Such were the Catharifts and Donatifts of old, and the Anabaptists now, whofe morofe Humours proceed rather from Pride and a falfe Opinion of Holiness, than from a true Endeavour of Sanctity; and left it fhould appear, that they want the Light of Truth,they make Ufe of theShadow of rigid Severity,to whom I commend the Advice of St. Augustine, That they charitably amend what they can, and patiently endure what they cannot, and in Love figh and lament until God amend all. But when under a Pretence of Zeal for Perfection, we cannot difpenfe with any Imperfection in the Body, or Members of the Church, then we are to be admonished, that the Devil fwells us with Pride, and feduceth us by Hypocrify to defert the Flock of Chrift.

Matth. 13. Matth. 3. 12. 1 Cor. 11. C. 3. 3. C. 3.1. C. 6. 7. C. 9. 1. C. 15. 12. Calv. Inft. C. 4. S. 7. 12. mft. Lib. 4. C. 1. S. 12. 13. Calvin, adverfus Anabaptiftas.

Calvin's Opinion of fuch Churches as bave fome Errors mixed with the preaching of the Word.

TH He Doctrine of the Church is either that which is abfolutely neceffary to be known, as that there is a God, that Chrift is God, &c. or that Part which is lefs necef fary, which may be controverted in the Church, and yet not deftroy the Unity of Faith. As for Inftance, Suppofe that fome hold, that the Souls of Men do not go immediately to Heaven, yet do grant they live unto God,but determine not of the Place: The Apostle Phil. 3. 15. plainly fheweth, that fuch Diffent in Points of Doctrine not neceffary, are no Ground for Divifion; fome Faults may be discovered both in Do&trine and Administration of Sacraments, which yet ought not to alienate us, from the Communion of the Church. It is indeed a great Fault, when either through Carelefnefs or Indulgence, or want of Authority, the Minister doth not do his Office, in purging the Church; which the Apostle greatly blames in the Corinthians, but tho the Church be tardy in it's Office, it is not lawful for every private Man prefently to refo've on Separation: You may avoid the familiar Society of fuch wicked Men, but not defert the Communion of the Church. And tho' fome Men, through an inconfiderate Zeal, may be faulty in this Refpect; yet we fhall ordinarly find this great Mo

ros

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rofity to arife, rather from Pride and Difdain, or a falfe Opinion of Sanctity, than from true Holiness, or a fincere Endeavour to promote it, there ought to be fo great an Abhorrence of Schifm amongst Christians, that they alway fly from it as far as poffibly they can: They ought to have fo great a Reverence of the Miniftry and Sacraments, that wherever they perceive these to be, they think the Church to be there. This I earnestly perfwade, that Schifms do not divide any Church; which, tho' it may be corrupt in Manners, and infected with ftrange Doctrines, yet it is not wholly departed from that Doctrine, on which St. Paul teacheth the Church of Chrift to be founded. This therefore I must still lament, as one of the greatest Evils of our Times, that one Church is so divided from another, that fcarce any human Society is maintained among us; much lefs doth the holy Communion of the Members of Chrift appear among us; which, tho' all profess with their Mouths, very few do in Truth fincerely practise.

I

Calvin, Inft: L: 4. C: 1. S: 12. S: 15. Ep: 11. Ep: 12. Ep. 126. to Cranmer.

Calvin's Opinion of the Doctrine of the Church of England.

Am fo far from objecting any Thing against the Doctrine there professed, that I rather give God Thanks, who hath fo illuminated them with the Knowledge of found Doctrine, that the chief Magiftrate takes Care to have it publickly preached; and it was my Advice, that Care fhould be taken of unftable (or defultory) Witts, and Provifion made to keep out curious Doctrines, (and I think their Articles have done both. In compofing of which, I know the English Reformers had Respect to the Auguftine Confeffion, as, by comparing them, may appear. And I, who did fubscribe the one, cannot diffwade you from fubfcribing the other.)

Calvin: Epift: 87. The 39Articles were Printed two Years before Calvin's Death.

Calvin's Opinion of the Limitation of Minifters in the Exercife of their Gifts.

I

Think it a Means to remedy many Evils, if there be compofed a Summary of DoEtrine, to be received by all; which all Minifters fhould obferve in their Preaching; which all the Bishops and Parochial Ministers should be obliged by Oath to obferve; fo as none fhould be admitted to any Ecclefiaftical Office, unless he should fubfcribe to keep that Harmony of Doctrine inviolated; and this is the Practice of moft reformed Churches. In this Church of Geneva it was provided, That if any One should spread Opinions, contrary to the Doctrine received in the Church; let him first be admonished in a brotherly Manner; if he acquiefce, let him be forgiven without any Note of Infamy; if he be contumacious, and obftinately addicted to his Error, let him be folemnly admonished, until the Confiftory declares, that greater Severity is to be used; and then let the Lord's Supper be denied him, and let him be committed to the Synod. It was alfo ordered, that the Papacy being publickly disclaimed by Oath, the whole People should fwear to the Chriftian Religion and Doctrine comprehended in a few Chapters. I was confulted about this Queftion, Whether they that defired Miffion into the Church, may be required to give a publick Teftimony of their Faith? Which I thus anfwered; I fee no Reafon why they, who will be actheir Names counted of the Communion of Chrift, fhould think it grievous to give up to Chrift their Head; which cannot be done, unless they exprefly fubfcribe to fincere Religion, and ingenuously condemn these Errors by which the Sincerity of Religion is corrupted: We know how much St. Paul commends unto us the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond af Peace. Moreover, to retain and cherish Agreement among good Men, a folemn Confeffion of Faith is more than neceffary; and whoever with that the Church of God may ftand fafe, will not take it amifs to fupport it by fuch a Means. And the Wantonnefs of Men's Understanding, is to be reftrained, that they be not too curious in the Defire of Knowledge: A learned Ignorance is to be commended, while we seek Wisdom only in the Word of God; and even there reverently admire thofe Things which God would have to be kept fecret.

Calv: Epift: ad Protect Epift: 167. Beza in vita Calvini. Epift: 27. Ad verfipellom quendam.

Mr.

A Continuation of an Appeal to Calvin's Tri bunal, &c.

Mr. Calvin's Answer to Mr. Cartwright's Representation of his Opinion of Arch-bibops and Bishops.

MR. Cartwright may not be believed in a Report fo contradictory to my publick Writings: I would never have the Authority of the Church Governours de nied unto them; but do acknowledge, that the Bishops, which, according to their Office, do teach the Word of God, ought reverently to be heard.

in

I had always a great Reverence for the Bifhops of your Church, to whom I gave inward Reverence as well as outward Refpect, and would gladly have ferved them, in fettling of the English Church; and my Judgment is, That if we may have fuch an Hierarchy, in which the Bishops fo excel others, that they refuse not Subjection to Chrift, but would depend on him as their only Head, and refer themselves to him; which they so preserve brotherly Communion among themselves, that they are united by nothing more than the Truth: In this Cafe I denounce him worthy of all Curfes who doth not observe such an Hierarchy with all Reverence and Obedience. And I would to God fuch a Succeffion had continued to this Day, it should easily have found from us the Obedience that it deferves. I do account the Government by Arch Bishops a moderate Honour, as being within the Compass of a Man's Power to execute, which the Pope's pretended Authority is not; and the ancient Church did appoint Patriarchs and Primates in every Province, as a Bond to unite Bishops in Concord.

Calv. Confeff. Fid. Gall. Epift. to Cran.de Reformand. Ecclef. neceffitate. Vera ecclefiæ Reformatio Epift. ad regem Polonia.

Calvin's Opinion concerning diftinct Orders in the Ancient Church.

Here is a threefold Miniftry commended unto us in the Scripture, and whatever Ministry was in the primitive Church, wasdiftinguished into three Orders; for from the Order of Presbyters, there was chofen Paftors and Doctors, the rest were to infpe&t Manners and Cenfures. The Care of the Poor was committed to the Deacons: S. Hierom names Five Orders in the Church (viz.) Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, the Fideles, or faithful, and the Catechumeni, (Three of thefe were of the Clergy,the other Two of the Laity.).

Calv. Inft. L. 4. C. 4. S. 1.

Calvin's Opinion of the Order of Bishop, as diftinct from a Presbyter, in the Primitive Church.

TH

He Presbyters to whom the Office of preaching was enjoined did in every City chufe one out of their Number,to whom they folely gave the Title of Bishop; left Diffenfion should arife, where all were equal (as it ufually comes to pafs.) Now every City had a College of Presbyters, which were Paftors and Teachers, for they all had the Office of teaching, exhorting and reproving in the Congregation.

Το

every City a certain Region or Province belonged, which had Presbyters fent from the City, and they were accounted Members of the Body of that Church. This is the Sum then of the primitive Government: Presbyteries confifted of Pastors and Teachers, nor were they feated any where but in Cities, to which the Region (or Diocefs) was adjoined; and to avoid Confufion, over each Presbytery, and the adjoining Country, was a Bishop, who in Dignity and Authority was above them: It was no human Invention but a divine Institution, that every one fhould have a Church affigned to him, yet fo as he might by his Prefence and Counsel affift other Churches, thus Archippus was Bishop of the Coloffians: And the Affembly at Ausburg declared,

That