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Author: Patrick, Simon, 1626-1707.
Title: An answer to a book, spread abroad by the Romish priests, intituled, The touchstone of the reformed Gospel wherein the true doctrine of the Church of England, and many texts of the Holy Scripture are faithfully explained / by the Right Reverend Father in God, Symon, Lord Bishop of Ely.
Print source: An answer to a book, spread abroad by the Romish priests, intituled, The touchstone of the reformed Gospel wherein the true doctrine of the Church of England, and many texts of the Holy Scripture are faithfully explained / by the Right Reverend Father in God, Symon, Lord Bishop of Ely.
Patrick, Simon, 1626-1707.
London: Printed for R. Chiswell ..., 1692.
Notes:
"The touchstone of the reformed Gospel" is by Matthew Kellison.
Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
Subject terms:
Kellison, Matthew. -- Touchstone of the reformed Gospel.
Church of England -- Doctrines.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A56600.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
TO THE READER.
AN ANSWER TO THE TOUCHSTONE OF The Reformed Gospel.
I. The Protestants, he saith, affirm, That there is not in the Church One, and that an Infallible Rule, for un∣derstanding the Holy Scriptures, and conserving Ʋnity in matters of Faith.
Answer.
II. The Protestants, he saith, affirm. That in matters of Faith, we must not rely upon the Judgment of the Church and Her Pastors, but only upon the Written Word.
Answer.
III. His next Charge is, that we affirm, The Scriptures are easy to be under∣stood, and that therefore none ought to be restrained from reading of them.
Answer.
IV. He makes us say next, That Apostolical Traditions, and An∣cient Customs of the Church (not found in the Written Word) are not to be received, nor do oblige us.
Answer.
V. Next he makes us affirm: That a man by his own understanding, or private spirit, may rightly judge and interpret Scripture.
Answer.
VI. They affirm, That St. Peter's Faith hath failed.
Answer.
VII. That the Church can err, and hath erred.
VII. That the Church hath been hidden, and invisible.
V. We maintain, he saith, That the Church was not always to remain Catholick, or Ʋniversal; and that the Church of Rome is not such a Church.
Answer.
X. The Reformers, he saith, hold That the Church's Ʋnity is not neces∣sary in all points of Faith.
Answer.
XI. That St. Peter was not ordained by Christ the first Head, or Chief a∣mong the Apostles; and that among the Twelve, none was greater, or lesser than other.
Answer.
XII. We hold, he saith, That a Woman may be Head, or Su∣pream Governess of the Church, in all Causes, as the late Queen Eliza∣beth was.
Answer.
XIII. That Antichrist shall not be a parti∣cular Man; and that the Pope is Antichrist.
Answer.
XIV. That no Man, nor any but God, can forgive, or retain Sins.
Answer.
XV. That we ought not to confess our sins to any man, but to God only.
Answer.
XVI. That Pardons and Indulgences were not in the Apostles times.
Answer.
XVII. That the Actions and Passions of the Saints, do serve for nothing to the Church.
Answer.
XVIII. That no Man can do Works of Super∣erogation.
Answer.
XIX. That by the fall of ADAM, we have all lost our Free-will; and that it is not in our Power to chuse Good, but only Evil.
Answer.
XX. That it is impossible to keep the Com∣mandments of God, tho assisted with his Grace, and the Holy Ghost.
Answer.
XXI. That Faith only justifieth; and that Good Works are not absolutely neces∣sary to Salvation.
Answer.
XXII. That no Good Works are Meritorious.
Answer.
XXIII. Faith once had, cannot possibly be lost.
Answer.
They maintain, XXIV. That God by his Will and inevitable De∣cree, hath ordained from all Eternity, who shall be damned, and who saved.
Answer.
Further they hold (saith he) XXV. That every one ought infallibly to assure himself of his Salvation; and to be∣lieve that he is of the number of the Predestinate.
Answer.
XXVI. That every Man hath not an Angel-Guardian, or Keeper.
Answer.
XXVII. That the holy Angels pray not for us, nor know our thoughts and desires on earth.
Answer.
XXVIII. That we may not Pray to them.
Answer.
Protestants hold, he saith, XXIX. That the Angels cannot help us.
Answer.
XXX. That no Saint deceased, hath after∣ward appeared to any upon Earth.
Answer.
XXXI. That the Saints deceased, know not what passeth upan Earth.
Answer.
XXXII. That the Saints pray not for us.
Answer.
XXXIII. That we ought not to beseech God to grant our Prayers, in favour of the Saints, or their merits: nor do we reeeive any benefit thereby.
Answer.
XXXIV. That we ought not expresly to pray them to pray or intercede to God for us.
Answer.
XXXV. That the Bones or Relicks of Saints, are not to be kept, or reserved; no vertue proceeding from them, after they be once dead.
Answer.
XXXVI. That creatures cannot be sanctified, or made more holy than they are already of their own nature.
Answer.
XXXVII. That children may be saved by their Parents Faith, without the Sacra∣ment of Baptism.
Answer.
XXXVIII. That the Sacrament of Confirmation is not to be used.
Answer.
XXXIX. That the Bread of the Supper of the Lord, was but a Figure, or Remem∣brance of the Body of Christ received by Faith; and not his true, and very Body.
Answer.
XL. That we ought to receive under both kinds; and that one alone sufficeth not.
Answer.
XLI. That there is not in the Church a true and proper Sacrifice; and that the Mass is not a Sacrifice.
Answer.
XLII. That Sacramental Ʋnction is not to be used to the Sick.
Answer.
XLIII. That no interior Grace is given by Im∣position of Hands, in Holy Orders. And that Ordinary Vocation, and Mission of Pastors, is not necessary in the Church.
Answer.
XLIV. That Priests, and other Religious Per∣sons, which have vowed their Cha∣stity to God, may freely Marry, not∣withstanding their Vow.
Answer.
XLV. That Fasting and Abstinence from cer∣tain Meats, is not grounded on Ho∣ly Scripture, nor causeth any Spiri∣tual Good.
Answer.
XLVI. That Jesus Christ descended not into Hell nor delvered thence the Souls of the Fathers.
Answer.
XLVII. That there is no Purgatory fire, or other Prison, wherein Sins may be satisfied for, after this life.
Answer.
XLVIII. That it is not lawful to make, or have Images.
Answer.
XLIX. That it is not lawful to reverence Ima∣ges, nor to give any honour to insen∣sible things.
Answer.
L. That no man hath seen God in any form; and that therefore his Pi∣cture, or Image cannot be made.
Answer.
LI. That Blessing, or Signing with the sign of the Cross, is not founded in Holy Scripture.
Answer.
LII. That the Publick Service of the Church, ought not to be said, but in a Lan∣guage that all the People may under∣stand.
Answer.
CONCLƲSION.
ERRATA.