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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26615	Protestancy to be embrac'd, or, A new and infallible method to reduce Romanists from popery to Protestancy a treatise of great use to all His Majesties subjects, and necessary to prevent error and popery / by David Abercromby, D., lately converted, after he had profess'd near nineteen years Jesuitism and popery.	Abercromby, David, d. 1701 or 2.	1682 (1682)	Wing A86; ESTC R6382	30,832	174

blam'd because 't is not in the power of the will to force upon our understanding the belief of a known falshood or of what appears to us evidently false to conclude as I have begun paritate rationis by a parity of reason since the Romanists because of the foresaid invincible ignorance grant to some Protestants a capacity of being saved unless they belye themselves they will not refuse the same to those in whom we meet with a like invincible ignorance yea more and harder to be overcome as may appear by what I have said 21. I foresee the Romanist may reply that those Protestants he hath no charity for are such as resist the known truth for instance they are perswaded the arguments in favour of Transubstantiation are better grounded than these they oppose against it So they shall not be saved through their own misbelief wilfulness and obstinacy in error To which I make this short and satisfactory answer that such men are not true Protestants of whom only we speak but rather abominable Hypocrites professing outwardly a Doctrine they judge in their hearts false and erroneous This Objection than vanisheth as being de subjecto non supponente grounded on a false supposition SECT II. 1. I Have proved positively and I think to perswasion if preoccupation be laid aside the undeniable truth of my first Principle that Protestants may be saved For the Readers intire satisfaction I shall make out the same in a Negative way by showing to all not willfully blind there can be no let or hinderance to their Salvation what-ever Romanists can instance as inconsistent with their attaining to eternal happiness may be reduc'd either to Schism or Heresie and that either jointly or severally After an impartial scrutiny of their best grounds of such foul aspersions I found them all to be groundless unwarrantable and insufficient 2. Schism is a separation from the true Church of God Protestants are not separated from the true Church of God ergo they are not guilty of Schism they are not Schismaticks All generally confess the Christians of the three first Centuries to have been the constituent Members of Christ's true Church from these the Protestants are not separated either in belief manners or Ecclesiastical Discipline this I could prove to the conviction of the most obstinate had it not been perform'd abundantly and more than once by others The same cannot be said of the Romanists since they have admitted of many novelties never heard of in these Primitive times such are in invocation of Saints adoration of the consecrated Wafer Image-worship Popes Supremacy c. So if they stand to the same Fundamentals with the Church in her purest age 't is certain they have added thereunto and are guilty of divers Superstructures which the Protestants were never and cannot be accus'd of But 't is not so much my design in this place to charge Romanists as to justifie Protestants and those who embrace Protestancy 3. They will perhaps say we are Schismaticks because separated from the Church of Rome But 1. The Church of Rome is a particular one and a member only of the Universal Church 2. As it now stands 't is not our rule but that undoubted of Christian Church in the Primitive times without spot or blemish 3. This aspersion of Schism smites rather themselves For those only we call Schismaticks who are guilty of division and breach of unity by doing that which is the true cause thereof That the meanest capacities may understand this let them take notice of what follows If my body were united or closely joining to yours would ye not be judg'd the true cause of our separation if ye put any thing between you and me hindring this union so you are the true Separatist not I because you have thrust me from you by that middle Obstacle you have plac'd betwixt us both which unless first removed I cannot unite my body to yours again 4. This is downright our present case if well understood The Protestants and Romanists were once two united bodies in the pure age of the Church in these happy times when Superstition had not as yet gain'd a foot of ground amongst Christians they were one People anima una corunum one Soul and one Heart But at length the Romanists set up betwixt us and them murum aheneum an invincible obstacle a heap of errors destructive both to union and unity so if we be separated now who were formerly united 't is evidently by their fault we could not persevere in union with them because of this middle wall that did separate us let them throw it down as they are oblig'd in conscience to do and we shall draw up together and joyn them close again Since then they gave a just occasion yea and are the true causes of this separation they are the Separatists and true Schismaticks not we 5. As for Heresie let Romanists say what they please it can't with the least appearance of truth be laid to our charge He is not guilty of that crime who defends obstinately any opinion whatsomever else all School-men and Divines standing stifly to their own fancys in Doctrinal points would be reckon'd Hereticks Such be those only who deny flatly and with obstinacy Divine Truths or Articles of Faith which cannot be impos'd upon Protestants without injustice ignorance and calumny 6. They deny indeed General Councils to be infallible in their decisions but their infallibility is no Article of Faith else Austin was a Heretick asserting General Councils gathered out of all the Christian World are often corrected the former by the latter correction of a Council undoubtedly supposeth a precedent error and a Council to be errable as every one understands that knows any thing On the same account he speaks after this manner to Maximian an Arian Bishop Neither ought I to instance the Council of Nice nor thou the Council of Arimene to take advantage thereby for neither I am bound by the authority of this nor thou of that set matter with matter cause with cause reason with reason try the matter by the authority of Divine Scriptures 7. An Article of Faith must either be clearly contain'd in Scripture or according to the Romanists declared expresly by some of their General Councils But that General Councils are infallible in their Decisions is neither contain'd clearly in Scriptures let them tell us in what Part Book Chapter Verse nor is it determin'd in any of the eighteen General Councils they acknowledge as the rules of their Faith none can be instanc'd where this hath been decided Upon what grounds then hold they this as a Divine Truth which is nothing else but a fanciful opinion hindering them to follow Austin's advice to set matter with matter cause with cause reason with reason to try the matter by the authority of Divine Scriptures 8. The general Councils are so far from pretending to be infallible Judges of controversial Debates that in a set

This method to be such as 't is design'd shall be 1. Plain that every one may understand it 2. Peaceable that the will may be gain'd and by it the understanding sweetly conquer'd 3. Short that it may be proportionable to the leisure of the most busied and none through Prolixity loth to read it All this I hope I shall perform to the satisfaction of Protestants and Conviction of Romanists if I make out with the clearness of a Noon Sun-shine 1. That Protestants may be saved 2. That they may be saved more easily and with greater security than those of the Romish perswasion 19. The first of these Principles proved will cause Romanists to look upon Protestants with a brotherly Love and Charity the second once establish'd will force them sweetly but irresistably to side with them as to matters of Religion and Divine Worship since they are perswaded in a business of such a weighty moment as is that of our Everlasting Happiness Tutius semper est eligendum the safest must still be preferred before what is less secure 20. This Treatise shall contain three short Articles in the two first I shall prove evidently to all Impartial Readers the forementioned truths in the last we shall raise such inferences as flow naturally from these two foregoing Principles ARTICLE I. PRINCIPLE I. That Protestants may be saved SECT I. 1. NOthing makes Romanists more averse from Protestants than this groundless perswasion of theirs that Protestants cannot be saved this is the sole cause of their obstinacy in Popery the true source of their immortal hatred against us and the very root of these extream Rigors they have practis'd against Protestants where-ever they happen'd to be absolute Masters This pitiful mistake wherein I liv'd several years was as a veil before my eyes hindering me to see the truth which now by the Grace of God I see clearly 2. Because this Principle is of great moment for the Conversion of Romanists I shall prove it to perswasion in two different ways 1. Positively by positive and evincing Reasons 2. Negatively by shewing there can be no let or hinderance of Salvation to such as profess Protestancy 3. I can imagine but two things necessary to Salvation or the attaining of Eternal Felicity The First is to live conformably to the Law of God because he is what he is our Soveraign Lord and Master The Second is to live conformably to the lawful Commands of such men as have their Authority deriv'd from him as the first Law-giver such are Kings Magistrates Princes and all Superiors whatsoever in their respective degrees of Superiority and Authority 4. As to the first point what people in the World professeth a more sincere allegiance to God or a more scrupulous observance of his Holy Law than the Reformed Churches do So as of old it was said Not us in judaeâ Deus that God was known particularly to the Jews we may say in all truth of them there is no where such a general knowledge whether practical or speculative of his Holy Law as amongst Protestants they read it in their Churches they interpret it in their Pulpits they peruse it in their Families they make it the Subject of their private Meditations of their more serious Conversations The Star they guide themselves by through the stormy Sea of this World is no other but Gods Infallible written Word whereunto they conform or which is all one for my intent they ought by their Principles to conform their Thoughts Words and all their Actions Is it than consistent with reason to exclude from a capacity of Eternal Felicity such as not relying upon uncertain Traditions regulate all their steps by the rule of God's Infallible Word Let us lay aside our own particular fancys and renounce our too partial and preoccupated Judgments and we shall instantly pronounce in their favour not a little discontent and amaz'd at our former uncharity and gross mistakes 5. Their Doctrine relating to our allegiance due to all Superiors is so wholesome and peaceable that I can imagine none more subservient to the interest of Princes they are infinitely averse and with all reason from that irrational opinion of most Romanist Divines who teach the Pope of Rome has power to Depose Princes when it pleaseth him to fancy they are Hereticks Whether they give a direct authority to the Pope over Kings which is no less than to enslave all Crown'd Heads to the Bishop of Rome or an indirect one only to depose Princes in certain Junctures 't is clear they take from Caesar what is Caesar's that independency on all earthly power God has allowed him here on Earth Princes are accountable to the King of Kings for all their actions and we to them if we forget so far our duty as to refuse them due allegiance This Doctrine being confess'd and profess'd by all true Protestants can we either think or say they are Reprobates or not in the way to Heav'n 6. To banish such an unchristian fancy far from your thoughts remember what is said in Scripture God illuminates all men illuminat omnem hominem for what end For no other but that by this light they may discover the way to their last end if all men be thus illuminated are Protestants excepted Are they not men and most of them great examples of vertue and piety 7. I wonder'd often to hear Romanists grant such as shall never hear of Christ and his Gospel were nevertheless in a capacity to save their Souls provided they lived conformably to the dictates of right reason I was amaz'd I say to hear them confess this and so inconsequentially deny the same to Protestants but what can we expect from preoccupated judgments but in just Censures uncharitable Reflexions and illegal Conclusions 8. I desire them here to consider that no people in the World hath higher sentiments of God and lower of themselves than those of the Reform'd Churches Which are confessedly the best Dispositions can be imagin'd to render us capable of that end we were created for They neither rely on the Mediation and Merits of Saints nor on their own good works they ground all their hopes of Salvation on the precious blood of Christ shed for us upon the Altar of the Cross they exalt highly by all their principles Gods infinite goodness and mercy ever acknowledging when they have done all they can they are but useless Servants and that all their sufficiency floweth from that overflowing Fountain of all power goodness and mercy 9. And if without faith 't is impossible to please God we have all reason to say they are most acceptable to his eyes since they show by their works their Faith is a saving and living Faith Who ever hath convers'd with them more intimately and will speak impartially what he thinks of their Life and Conversation shall easily assent to this and confess ingenuously they are the best representatives of the Primitive Christians so real you shall find them

Principles they follow by professing Protestancy a probable and well-grounded opinion That worshipping God after the Protestant manner they may attain to the end they were created for which is eternal happiness SECT 2. Conclusions flowing naturally from the second Principle of this method THE second Principle was That Protestants may be saved more easily and with greater security than those of the Romish Persuasion I shall not repeat here what I said before to explain rather than to prove this self-evident Truth hence only I infer what is evident enough of it self without any formal inference I. That Romish Priests are obliged not to endeavor as they do the Conversion or rather Perversion of Protestants because 't is a sin to withdraw any man from the safest way to Heaven II. The Romanists once convinc'd as I hope they are of this second Principle must of necessity renounce Popery and profess Protestancy there being an obligation incumbent to all men in matters of such a high Concern to chuse that which is securest III. Protestants must stand stoutly to their own Religion and way of Divine Worship and cannot if they regard a good Conscience after this instruction turn Romanists because in so doing they would endanger their own Souls by reason of the forementioned obstacles to salvation in the profession of Popery IV. All true Protestants and more particularly Those who by their Dignity Office and Imployment are to watch over the Flock must needs if they will perform their duty endeavour with all Charitable and Christian means the Confirmation of Protestants in Protestancy and the Conversion of their Popish Subjects from Popery else they forfeit their Character and Ministry as neglecting the spiritual concerns of Souls redeem'd by the precious blood of Christ and committed to their trust and vigilancy If I have been my self instrumental to the perversion of several while misled by a blind Zeal I saw things but under one light I shall at Conveniency repair this Damage done to the Church by writing in my spare-hours such instructions as may be subservient to their returning homewards or useful to the conversion of others and particularly my nearest and dearest Relations V. I shall put here a stop to my Pen and an end to this Treatise with a short and charitable Advice to all His Majesties Subjects of the Romish Persuasion Charitable Advice to all His Majesties Subjects of the Romish Persuasion YOu have believ'd till now as an Article of your Faith That Protestants were all Reprobates Hereticks Schismaticks and many of them Apostates Your Faith being ever an implicite one and pinn'd on other mens sleeves You are more to be pitied for this gross mistake than blam'd You are not unlike pardon me the freedom of this Parallel to those that are blind from their birth You may induce such men to believe any Falshood you please as for instance that White is Black or Black is White because they want the use of their visive Faculty and solely relie on your Authority You renounce not only to your reason in favour of the pretended Council-Oracles You hold not only your understanding captive when Rome speaks but you extinguish the clearest light thereof in submission to her Decisions as if you were quite blind and understood nothing or as if Nature had not bestowed upon you an intellective Faculty in order to discern good from evil falshood from truth to try the spirits whence they are whether of God or not The Romanists your Masters imitate those ancient Heathens who to gain the Peoples esteem and greater veneration for their Laws said confidently They had received them immediatly from the gods So they to hold you in awe and tyrannize over your understandings as by a principle of Conscience call boldly whatever is decided in General Councils Divine Oracles Reveal'd Truths Faith-Articles which is the greatest Artifice the Prince of Darkness could invent to spread all the World over Error Ignorance and Superstition To avoid then your being seduc'd hereafter make use of your Reason since 't is chiefly allow'd you for your attaining to the knowledge of saving Truths peruse often and meditate frequently this Treatise wherein you shall discover clearly I. That Protestants you have been so averse from hitherto through preoccupation and ignorance may be saved as being true Members of the Universal Church and neither Hereticks nor Schismaticks II. That they attain to Eternal Happiness more easily and with greater safety than Romanists standing to the Principles of Popery III. That the boasted of Infallibility of General Councils is no Article of Faith amongst Roman-Catholicks but a meer politick design to domineer by this persuasion over all Nations for the increase of temporal Concerns and that as Rome of old subdued the World by force of Arms she may still enslave it by Religious Scruples and strong Fancies of the Divine Original of her Oracles which was meant by the Poet that sung thus Roma caput mundi quic quid non possidet armis Religione tenet You have pretended formerly your Conscience suffered you not to conform to that Divine Worship now established by Law in these three Kingdoms you thought it not lawful to forsake Popery and profess Protestancy as being in your opinion nothing else but Heresie Schism Apostasie This can be no more an Obstacle to your Conversion you are now informed to Conviction of the contrary and of your incumbent Obligation to retreat from Romanism of two Evils the least is to be chosen and of two ways to Heaven that which is securest in matters of this Concern all deliberation laid aside your Conscience will press you to the surest So long as you endeavour your being insensible to her Checks you pretend in vain to any true happiness in this life she will sound perpetually in your ears the extreme danger you are in through your own fault and as an inseparable terrifying and threatning Ghost disturb your Repose by day and by night in all times and in all places Omnibus umbra locis aderit FINIS Tom. 6. l. 2. con Donat. Anst con Maxim l. 3. c. 4. De ordin Cele con Acts 8.1 Luk. 24.32 Act. 3.22 1 Cor. 10.24 25 27. 1 Timot. 3. Hebr. 13.4 1 Timot. 4.3.6 1 Corinth 7.2