by consequence, papal definitions or decrees, though ex cathedra, as they term them, oblige none, under pain of heresie, to an interior as

sent.

7. Nor do Catholicks, as Catholicks, believe that the Pope hath any direct, or indirect, authority over the temporal power and jurisdiction of princes. Hence, if the Pope should pretend to absolve or dispence with his Majesty's subjects from their allegiance, upon account of heresie or schism, such dispensation would be vain and null; and all Catholick subjects, notwithstanding such dispensation, or absolution, would be still bound in conscience to defend their king and countrey, at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, even against the Pope himself, in case he should invade the nation.

8. And as for problematical disputes, or errors, of particular divines, in this or any other matter whatsoever, the Catholick church is nowise responsible for them: nor are Catholicks, as Catholicks, justly punishable on their account. But,

9. As for the king-killing doctrine, or murder of princes, excommunicated for heresie, it is an article of faith in the Catholick church, and expressly declared in the general Council of Constance, that such doctrine is damnable and he

retical, being contrary to the known laws of God and nature.*

10. Personal misdemeanours of what nature soever, ought not to be imputed to the Catholick church, when not justifyable by the tenets of her faith and doctrine; for which reason, though the stories of the Paris massacre; the Irish cruelties; or powder plot, had been true (which yet, for the most part, are notoriously misrelated), nevertheless Catholicks, as Catholicks, ought not to suffer for such offences, any more than the eleven apostles ought to have suffered for Juda's treachery.

11. It is an article of the Catholick faith to believe, that no power on earth can license men to lye, to forswear, and perjure themselves, to massacre their neighbours, or destroy their native countrey, on pretence of promoting the Catholick cause or religion; furthermore, all pardons and dispensations granted or pretended to be granted, in order to any such ends or designes, have no other validity or effect, then to add sacrilege and blasphemy to the above-mentioned crimes.

12. The doctrine of equivocation, or mental reservation, however wrongfully imposed on the

* Conc. Const. Sess. 15.

Catholick religion, is, notwithstanding, neither taught nor approved by the church, as any part of her belief. On the contrary, simplicity and godly sincerity are constantly recommended by her as truly Christian vertues, necessary to the conservation of justice, truth, and common society.

"Of some particular controverted Points of Faith. -1. Every Catholick is obliged to believe; that when a sinner repenteth him of his sins from the bottom of his heart, and acknowledgeth his transgressions to God and his ministers, the dispensers of the mysteries of Christ, resolving to turn from his evil wayes, and bring forth fruits worthy of penance, there is (then and no otherwise) an authority left by Christ to absolve such a penitent sinner from his sins; which authority Christ gave to his apostles, and their successors, the bishops and priests of the Catholick Church, in those words, when he said, Receive ye the Holy-Ghost, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven unto them, &c.

2. Though no creature whatsoever can make condign satisfaction, either for the guilt of sin, or the pain eternal due to it, this satisfaction being proper to Christ our Saviour only; yet penitent sinners redeemed by Christ may, as members of Christ, in some measure satisfie by prayer, fasting, alms deeds, and other works of piety, for the temporal pain, which by order of

divine justice sometimes remains due, after the guilt of sin, and pains eternal are (gratis) remitted. These penitential works are notwithstanding satisfactory no otherwise then as joyned and applyed to that satisfaction, which Jesus made upon the cross, in vertue of which alone, all our good works find a grateful acceptance in God's sight.

3. The guilt of sin or pain eternal due to it, is never remitted by indulgences; but only such temporal punishments as remain due after the guilt is remitted; these indulgences being nothing else than a mitigation or relaxation upon just causes, of canonical penances, enjoyned by the pastors of the Church on penitent sinners, according to their several degrees of demerit. And if any abuses or mistakes be sometimes committed, in point either of granting or gaining indulgences, through the remissness or ignorance of particular persons, contrary to the ancient custom and discipline of the Church; such abuses or mistakes cannot rationally be charged on the Church, nor rendered matter of derision, in prejudice to her faith and doctrine.

4. Catholicks hold there is a Purgatory, that is to say, a place or state, where souls departing this life, with remission of their sins, as to the eternal guilt or pain, yet obnoxious to some temporal punishment still remaining due, and not perfectly freed from the blemish of some

venial defects, or deordinations, (as idle words, &c. not liable to damnation) are purged before their admittance into Heaven, where nothing that is defiled can enter. Furthermore,

5. Catholicks also hold, That such souls, so detained in purgatory, being the living members of Christ Jesus, are relieved by the prayers and suffrages of their fellow-members here on earth: but where this place is; Of what nature or quality the pains are; How long each soul is detained there; After what manner the suffrages made in their behalf are applyed; Whether by way of satisfaction or intercession; &c. are questions superfluous, and impertinent as to faith.

6. No man, though just, can merit either an increase of sanctity or happiness in this life, or eternal glory in the next, independent of the merits and passion of Christ; nevertheless in and by the merits of Christ Jesus, the good works of a just man, proceeding from grace and charity, are acceptable to God, so far forth as to be, through his goodness and sacred promise, truly meritorious of eternal life.

7. It is an article of the Catholick faith, That in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist, there is truly and really contained the body of Christ, which was delivered for us, and his bloud, which was shed for the remission of sins; the substance of bread and wine, being by the

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