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of the first Seven, and. I might fays of the firft Eight Centuries to That Error, Superftition, and Idolatry having afterwards infenfibly crept into the Church, the true Chri ftian Doctrine found many illuftrious and generous Protectors in the Prelates, Clergy and People of the Dioceffes of Milan,TTurin, Acquitain and Narbon ; who had deli vered it down to their Pofterity, known in the History of the 12th Century, under the Names of Patares, Albigeois and Vaudors. Whereas, on the other hand, it appears from the Teftimony of Hiftory, that Popery is, with regard to thofes controverted Points that caufed our feparation, a modern Doctrine and a downright Mofaic-work: The various Pieces of which were not inlaid all at once, but at feveral times. For inftance, the Wor fhip of Images, was firfts made a Law to the Church by the fecond Council of Nice and in the year 789. Which Council was even afterwards oppofed by that of Francfort in the year 7949 Indulgences, as they are now understood, and the Office of the Virgin Mary, are not more ancient than the Councill of Clermont, that was held in the year 1093. They had, for almoft four hundred tyears together, difputed on the Nature of the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper, when sin the Council of Latran held in the year, -12187 Indecent the Third determined that Question) and made Transubstantiation an Article of Faith. Before the Tenth Century, the Holy Scripture was read and DiA 3

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& Vine

VI

vine Service celebrated in the vulgar Tongue,
as appears from the feveral Tranflations we
have of the Scripture that were then made
in the living Languages of Europe. The
taking away of the Chalice, is only from
I
the Council of Conftance held in the 15th
Century, not to mention a Croud of w
Articles that were added by the Council of
fo that the
Gallican Church, far from having any
ground to glory in, having preferved Reli-
gion fo pure, as it was in the time of Clovis
the first Chriftian King of France, is indeed
very far from having kept it in so true and
genuine a State as it was in the time of Char-
lemaign, who reigned about 300 years
after. Of this every one must be convinced,

Trent, held in the Sfrom hav

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Compare the History of the Church

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in thefe different Ages in bell ba
25 BUT befides thofe general Imputations
they, without diftinction, fasten on all Pro-
teftants; they lay many particular Charges
on thofe of France, with regard to their
Origine, Principles and Conduct, do Visita.
-IN their Opinion the Reformed Religion
in France, that fatal Infection that spread it
Jelf, (it is Father Daniel speaks thus) by de-
grees over all Parts of the Kingdom, owes its
first Original to a few defpicable Names, that
are mentioned in Hiftory for no other pur-
pole, but to make that new Religion's Ori-
poleo
gin to be known. This he fays immediate-
ly after having mentioned Mr. Pavanes,
who for Religion's fake was burned alive at

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Paris

Paris in the year 1525 He pretends, that འ he was a Clothiers and that Luther and his Difciples made ufe of People of that Rank to carry on their Undertakings in France. M. De Beze, who was almost his Contemporary, fays, that he was a young but lear Би ed Man, whom Briconnet the Bishop of Meaux had perfuaded to come into me, his Diocese. bladingT

161

OUR good Jefuit, however, forgets that in the foregoing Paragraph, relating to what had paffed at Meaux at Meaux in the year 1522, (that is, three years before the Martyrdom of Payanes) he has faid, that the abovementioned Bishop had a Correfpondence with Doctor James Le Fevre, whom the Faculty of Paris had cut off from its Body, on account of his Errors; that the Bishop had called him near him, with William Farel, and Arnauld and Gerard Rouffel, as being People of uncommon Wit, and Literature. They were, fays he, already corrupt in their Doctrine, and they perverted many others in his Diocefs. Now compare what he fays here, with what he has advanced in the foregoing Paragraph or

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Le Fevre or Fabri, was a Doctor: AfLE terwards he was one of the Minifters of Marguerite Queen of Navarr, and died at the Court of that Princess, full of days, and laden with the Honours fhe had beftowed upon him. William Farrel was a Man of great Senfe and Learning; he carried the Reformation to Geneva, Arnauld and Geor ode

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rard Rouffel, were alfo very ingenious, and Men of Letters. Gerard, who afterwards was Bishop of Oleron, contributed much to the Progress of the Reformation in the States of the King of Navarr, on this fide the Pyrenées; and converted almost all the Royal Family of Navarr, the Result of which Event, fays Daniel, proved very fatal even to France itself. taveb nogl♬ asift

THE honeft Jefuit did certainly dote, thus to mention Men fo eminent for their Merit; whom the Bishop of Meaux had invited to come near him to his Metropolis, who had published their Sentiments there, and even corrupted many others in the fame Diocefs

iocefs, that is, made feveral Converts: The Jefuit, I fay, must needs have been afleep, when after this Paragraph, be it that immediately following tells us, that a WoollCarder, and a Clothier, one Le Cleserand Pavanes, People whofe Names, he faid, were for very defpicable, have nevertheless been the Original of the fatal Contagion. Who would not think, that these two Men had Inftructors of Doctor Le Fevie, Deen th of Mr. Farel, and of the two Rouffels ; inftead of having been their Difciples & He evidently changes the Order of Times; but no Arguments, though ever fo abfurd, sare unfit for fuch as are refolved to betray the Caufe of Truth, algos' oldongi yd snot, MOREOVER, let us fuppofe, that those fo defpicable Names, have as it werel ferved Luther and his Difciples, as their Forlorn

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Hope,

Hope, to pursue their Attempts in France; will it follow, that the Origine of the Reformation in France, which Father Daniel Atilesta fatal Contagion, must be derived from those pretended Deputies of Luther and his Difciples? Are we not rather to derive it from Luther and his Difciples themselves? Was ever the Origine of the Chriftian Religion derived from the Apostles? Was it not, on the contrary, from Jefus Chrift, who had fent them And if fo whats can fignify that Epithet, defpicable Names, made use of by Father Daniel

19 to

57 Bu let us do more; and grant the good Father whatever he can demand. Let us agree with him, that the Reformation in France owes its Original to fome WoollI to form in Carders or Cloth-makers, one Le Clerc and Pavanes, and other the like defpicable Names? What advantage will that Conceffion of ours be to his Caufe? Let us give his Argument a fyllogiftical Form. Le Clerc, Pavanes, and many others, have maintained Reformation in France, even to the lofs of their Lives: But Le Clerc, Pavanes and the reft were Wooll-Carders, Cloth-makers, and People of very mean Condition; therefore the Reformation they have maintained by the loss of their Lives, is no better than a fatal Contagion? Or, whatever is faid or done by ignoble People, by People of no Rank sor Learning, is a fatal Contagion; Inow! Le Clerce and Pavanes were People of no Ranky Learning or Dignity therefore, 596H

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