PApist, We humbly believe the sacred Mystery of the blessed Trinity, one Eternal Almighty and incomprehensible God, whom only we Adore and Worship, as alone having soveraign Dominion over all things, to whom only we acknowledge, as due from Men and Angels, all Glory, and Service, and Obedience, abhorring from our hearts (as a most detestable Sacriledge) to give our Creators Honour to any Creature whatsoever.
Answ. These fine words look newly stampt out of the Jesuits Mint: were they as plain, as they are filled with Equivocation, the Romanist would deceive us all in our Opinion of him, concerning the Point in controversie, Observe his Cunning.
His words of the Trinity are modest, neither highly Athenasian, nor yet Socinian, as some Phrase it, but calculated to both Meridians: Yet, how men can own God, and deny the express Rules of his Spirit, as most precisely mention'd in the Scriptures of Truth, is to me a Paradox. But how much the Progenitors of the Romanists have been injurious to the Christian Faith, by their multiplied obscure Phrases about the Trinity, is not unknown to some.
He thinks to clear himself of Imagery, but plainly ketches himself in his own Reservations: What Honour does he give to God?
Pap. And therefore we solemnly protest, that by the Prayers we address to Angels and Saints, we intend no other then humbly to sollicite their assistance before the Throne of Grace: not that we hope any thing from them as original Authors, but from God through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Redeemer.
Answ. 'Twere endless to bring the Contradictions of their own Authors, to the sence these words seem to import, and yet they are so laid as to admit of various Constructions; an Art they are greatly Masters of.
First, What ground have they to believe that such Sollicitations have such effects; the Scriptures are silent in the Case; nor was it the Practise of several Ages after that of the Apostles; so that it is neither warrantable by the Scripture, nor the most unspotted Tradition.
Nor do we say that the Papists ever held those Images to have any vertue simply from within themselves, but that God was the original Author: Yet their own words imply, they may be mediate Author of benefit to us.
And what is it but to contradict themselves, to say, they own but one Mediator Christ Jesus? And yet to allow a Mediating Power to Saints and Angels, at the Throne of Grace. If People will be Phras'd out of their Religion, they may; but such deserve to be Papists who have so mean an Opinion of their own Understandings, as to embrace these crossing Confessions for sincere Articles of Faith.
The Sense of Antiquity
Images of old were not admitted to be in Churches (so called) Simon Magus being their most notorious Founder, and by whose