Early English Books Online 2
 All Digital Collections  spacer  Login  
 
Add to bookbag
Author: White, John, 1570-1615.
Title: The way to the true church wherein the principall motiues perswading according to Romanisme and questions touching the nature and authoritie of the church and scriptures, are familiarly disputed, and driuen to their issues, where, this day they sticke betweene the Papists and vs: contriued into an answer to a popish discourse concerning the rule of faith and the marks of the church. And published to admonish such as decline to papistrie of the weake and vncertaine grounds, whereupon they haue ventured their soules. Directed to all that seeke for resolution: and especially to his louing countrimen of Lancashire. By Iohn White minister of Gods word at Eccles. For the finding out of the matter and questions handled, there are three tables: two in the beginning, and one in the end of the booke.
Print source: The way to the true church wherein the principall motiues perswading according to Romanisme and questions touching the nature and authoritie of the church and scriptures, are familiarly disputed, and driuen to their issues, where, this day they sticke betweene the Papists and vs: contriued into an answer to a popish discourse concerning the rule of faith and the marks of the church. And published to admonish such as decline to papistrie of the weake and vncertaine grounds, whereupon they haue ventured their soules. Directed to all that seeke for resolution: and especially to his louing countrimen of Lancashire. By Iohn White minister of Gods word at Eccles. For the finding out of the matter and questions handled, there are three tables: two in the beginning, and one in the end of the booke.
White, John, 1570-1615.
London: Printed [by R. Field] for Iohn Bill and William Barret, 1608.
Notes:
Printer's name from STC.
Pages 378 and 409 misnumbered 678 and 490.
Answers an earlier MS version of STC 10915.5: John Fisher. A treatise of faith, 1605.
Some pages stained.
Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary (New York, N.Y.). Library.
Subject terms:
Fisher, John, -- 1569-1641. -- Treatise of faith -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
Catholic Church -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A15093.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
View entire text
title page
TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHERS IN GOD, TOBIE, THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORKE HIS GRACE, Primate and Metropolitane of England: and to GEORGE, Lord Bishop of Chester: his very good Lords.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER, TOVCHING THE present controuersies betweene vs and the Romish Church.
A Table of the seuerall matters and questions handled and disputed in this Booke. The first number signifieth the Section, noted with this marke. §. The other, following the first, signifieth the numbers of that Section. VVhere the number is but one, there the whole Section is meant.
A Table of the Digressions contained in this Booke, with their Titles. The number set before, signifieth the number of the Digression. The number following, signifieth the §. vnder which it standeth.
De Iudice fidei, admonitio Catholica ad Lectorem.
A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE CON∣CERNING FAITH, BY WHICH IS euidently declared, how euery one that hath a desire to please God, and a care to saue his soule, the which should be the chiefe desire and care of euery Christian man, ought to resolue and settle him∣selfe in all points, questions and controuersies of faith.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 1. Prouing that the Papists grounding the doctrine of faith on Traditions, make them equall to the written word.
The Answer.
Digression. 2. Shewing the infolded faith of the Papists, and con∣futing the same as not entire.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 3. Wherein, by the Scriptures, Fathers, Reason, and the Papists owne confessions, it is shewed, that the Scripture is the rule of faith.
Digression. 4. containing the very cause why the Papists disable the Scripture so, from being the rule.
Digress. 5. Wherin, against the Iesuits conceit, secretly implied in his first conclusion, it is shewed that the Scriptures ought to be translated into the mother tongue, and so read indifferently by the lay people of all sorts.
The Answer.
Digression. 6. Declaring how the assurance of our faith is not built on the Churches authoritie, but on the illumination of Gods spirit shining in the Scripture it selfe.
Digression. 7. Wherein the Trent vulgar Latin, and our En∣glish translation are briefly compared together.
The Answer.
Digression. 8. Shewing that the Scriptures are not so obscure, but that they plainly determine all points of faith.
Digression. 9. Declaring that the Papists haue reason to hold the Scriptures be obscure and hard, because the articles of their religion be hardly or not at all to be found therein.
The Answer.
Digression. 10. Assigning the true cause of mens errors in ex∣pounding the Scriptures.
Digression. 11. Prouing that the Scripture it selfe hath that out∣ward authoritie whereupon our faith is built, and not the Church.
The Answer.
Digression. 12. Wherein it is shewed, that the Scripture proueth it selfe to be the very word of God, and receiueth not authority from the Church.
Digression. 13. Shewing against the Iesuits assumption, that all sub∣stantiall points of our faith are sufficiently determined in the Scripture: and the reason why the Papists call for the Chur∣ches authoritie.
The Answer.
Digression. 14. Containing a Discourse of Saint Austin about mens errors against the Scripture.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression 15. Against the two former conclusions, shewing that priuate and particular companies may sometime be assured of the truth against a pretended Catholicke companie.
The Answer.
Digression. 16. Shewing how the Papists pretending, at euerie word the Catholicke Church, meane nothing thereby but the Popes determination.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 17. Wherein it is shewed in what manner the Church is said to be inuisible: and that the Papists say no lesse concer∣ning this matter then we do.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 18. Prouing the true faith, or doctrine contained in the Scriptures, to be a good mark to know the true Church by.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 19. Touching the place of S. August. cont. epist. fun∣dam. cap. 5. and the matter which the Papists gather from it.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression 20. Concerning the proceeding of the Councell of Trent in the determining matters of faith.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 21. Shewing that Gods true Church in all ages hath now and then bene troubled with contentions, as great as are now among vs.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 22. Obiecting the behauiour of the Papists toward the diuine Scriptures, thereby to proue their varying from that which in former times the Primitiue Church of Rome be∣leeued.
Digression. 23. Wherein by fiue examples it is shewed that the mo∣derne Church of Rome is varied in points of faith from that which it beleeued formerly, and since the time it began to be the seate of Antichrist.
Digression. 24. Touching the contentions among the learned of the Church of Rome: and how the Papists liue not in that vnitie that is pretended.
The Answer.
Digression. 25. Wherein it is shewed, that in the Primitiue Church the Popes determination was not thought an infallible truth, neither did the Christians for the maintenance of vnitie sub∣mit themselues thereunto.
Digression. 26. Shewing that the Papists themselues do not so con∣stantly and vniformly submit themselues to the Popes iudge∣ment, nor beleeue his infallible authoritie as is pretended.
Digression 27. Shewing that the Church Primitiue acknowled∣ged not the Popes Primacy.
Digression. 28. Shewing that the Pope is not of infallible iudge∣ment, but may erre and fall into heresie, as any other man may.
Digression. 29. Declaring that the Pope is not Saint Peters suc∣cessor.
Digression 30. Wherin it is shewed, that the Papists are not agreed among themselues to this day, how Peters supposed Primacy is proued, or what it containeth: but they are vncertaine in expounding the maine texts of Scripture whereupon they build it.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 31. Containing many complaints made by the Papists themselues against their owne Church and people, whereby it appeareth, their liues are worse then can be said of the Pro∣testants.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression 32. Touching fasting, and how we differ from the Pa∣pists therein: and whether the doctrine of our Church be a∣gainst it, as the Papists charge vs.
Digression. 33. Concerning Auricular confession or shrift to a Priest; shewing that it is not necessary for the remission of sinne: and how it is an occasion rather then a remedie of sinne oftentimes.
Digression. 34. Concerning the necessitie or requisite condition of good workes for our saluation: shewing that the Protestants hold it.
Digression. 35. Touching the merit of our workes: and what is to be holden thereof.
Digression. 36. Answering those that accuse the Protestants for holding that no man can keepe Gods commandements, and shewing what is to be holden concerning that matter.
Digression. 37. Whether the Protestants thinke, whatsoeuer we do is sinne.
Digression. 38. Against the distinction of sin into mortall and ve∣niall.
Digression. 39. Touching the satisfaction that men are bound vnto for their sinnes.
Digression. 40. Wherein the doctrine of iustification by faith onely, is expounded and defended.
Digression. 41. Intreating of Predestination and Free-will, as the Protestants hold them: and shewing that their doctrine, concer∣ning these points, doth neither make God the author of sinne, nor leade men to be carelesse of their liues, nor inferre any ab∣solute necessitie constraining vs that we cannot do otherwise then we do.
Digression. 42. Againe touching Freewill, wherein the doctrine of our Church is methodically propounded, & in euery point com∣pared with that which the Papists hold: that the seuerall que∣stions betweene them and vs, and the maner how, and where they rise, may be seene distinctly set downe.
The Answer.
Digression. 43. Prouing that Gods children without miracles or extraordinary reuelation, may be and are infallibly assured that they haue grace, and are in the state of saluation.
The Answer.
Digression 44. Answering that which the Papists obiect touching the miracles of their Church, and the Saints therein.
Digress. 45. Touching Monkes and religious orders holden among the Papists, and which, they say, we haue reiected and forsaken.
The Answer.
Digress. 46. Naming certain points of the Popish religiō, which di∣rectly tend to the maintenance of open sin, and libertie of life.
The Answer.
Digression. 47. Of the authoritie of the ancient Fathers in matters of our faith and religion. Wherein it is shewed what we ascribe to them, and how farre forth we depend vpon them. And the practise of our aduersaries in contemning, eluding and refusing both them and their owne writers, is plainly discouered.
The Answer.
Digression. 48. contayning a briefe and direct answer to our ad∣uersaryes, when they say, we cannot assigne a visible company, professing the same faith, in euery poynt, that we do; euer since Christ, till now, without interruption.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 49. Obiecting eight points for example, wherein the Church of Rome holdeth contrary to that which formerly was holden: The conception of the virgin Marie, Latine ser∣uice, Reading the Scriptures, Priests mariage, Images, Supre∣macie, Communion in one kind, Transubstantiation.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 50. Of the conuersion of the Indies to the Romane faith by the Iesuites.
The Answer.
Digression. 51. Naming seuen points of the Popish religion, with the time when, and maner how they gate into the Church: thereby to shew, that there is sufficient record to detect the noueltie of the present Romane faith.
Digression. 52. Shewing that the present religion of the Romane Church was obserued and resisted in all ages, as it came in and increased: naming withall, the Persons that made the resi∣stance; and the Points wherein; and the Time when; from fiftie yeares to fiftie, throughout all ages since Christ: compendiously obserued out of history, for the satisfying of their error that so much conceit the antiquitie of Papistry, and think it was neuer controlled till Luthers time.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 53. Obiecting seuen things against the succession of Popes in the Sea of Rome, whereby the same is clearely de∣monstrated to haue bene interrupted, and not to be any cer∣taine or infallible succession.
The Answer.
The Answer.
Digression. 54. Containing a briefe narration touching the life and death of Martin Luther, with the incredible reports thereof made by his aduersaries. And shewing how sundry Popes, in the Church of Rome, haue liued and died worse then he, supposing all reports were true.
The Answer.
Digression. 55. Shewing how vncertaine, and contrary, the Papists are among themselues, touching the power of Priesthood in remitting sinnes; and concerning the first institution of Shrift, where it began.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
The Answer.
An Alphabeticall Table of the se∣uerall matters and questions handled and disputed in this Booke.
to the reader