their party to utmost danger Now in my Answer to this unknown Author I think I have not I am sure I intended not to give just offence to him or any other English Protestant 66. Yet this is the only Treatise against which a most Noble Friend besides a general reprehension instanced in a special passage which he thought fit to be sharply censured and this passage was my naming it The late Church of England Now surely Sir none who know me can judge me so utterly void of Humanity or Reason as to think that I meant this expression in a sense of insulting or of contentment in seeing a Church of which all the Friends I then had were members as I then verily thought destroyed by cruel Sectaries the little finger of whose Governours would be heavier to poor Catholicks than the loins of the former State 67. I must therefore acknowledge that at the time of writing that short Treatise I did and who almost did not despair of ever seeing a restauration of the Church of England to its former splendour though many were not out of all hope considering an impossibility of a constant union among those Sects that his Majesty might happily return I well remember that in France attending a certain Noble Person of very high Condition and special trust near his Majesty I once in discoursing ask'd him this Question Whether he thâ—ught not that it was in his power to have hindred the restoring of the English Hierarchy to which after considering a while he answered He thought it was â— Whereto I replied Alas my Lord how dare you adventure yâ—ur soul for all eternity in a Church which your self could have destroyed Thereupon he entred into a Discourse touching the nature of a Church of which he concluded I had a wrong Notion 68. But as for his first Answer I believe there was scarce any one who then doubted but that a small power would be of force enough to hinder the reviving of the Church of England yea most men thought that even his Majesty with all his interest and endeavours could not have been able to have effected it considering that all Sects though in other regards disunited yet unanimously conspired to the destruction of Episcopacy Therefore it argued more than heroical magnanimity and zeal also in his Majesties attempting and executing such a design from which such an incredible number of then not quite-unarmed Opponents could not deter him though also thereby he obstructed the flowing into his Exchequer whole Rivers of rich spoils belonging to the Clergy And truly in both these râ—gards it ought to be acknowledged by all English Protestants that the said Noble Person being then the most inward Counsellor to his Majesty shewed himself of proof both against fearâ— and avarice since no doubt a considerable advantage might have fallen to his share likewise in those spoils These things therefore considered I humbly conceive that the forementioned phrase The late Church of England spoken at such a time did not merit an extraordinary Censure considering also that as a particular Church and of such a peculiar fabrick it cannot appropriate to it self an Indefectibility or challenge share in the Promise of Christ that the gates of Hell shall nâ—t prevail against it 69. The next Book was the Answer to Dr. Pierce his Sermon In which I never heard any thing challenged as disrespectful to the English Clergy excepting one line for which my worthy Friend Dr. Earles then Dean of Westminster gave me a friendly chiding though to say the truth it was in his Wifes quarrel who was much offended with it and I confess with some reason And besides this there was one passage in it at which I my self have been much displeased which is the very first leaf in the Book To which also doubtless I had regard when in conversing with the Protestant Expostulator before-mentioned I complained of injuries done me being absent in the printng of my Books For having left the said Answer with a friend in London who undertook the care of the Impression certain Friends of his thinking I had begun the Answer too abruptly they willing to be in aliâ—no libro ingeniosi framed an entrance into the Book full of taunting and contempt against the Author of the Sermon And having sent me enclosed in a Letter the first sheet I was moved with such indignation and shame at the reading of it that I protested unless that entrance were taken away I would in a printed paper publickly disavow the work For besides my natural abhorring of uncivil language especially in Controversies about Religion I judged that a Writer did himself wrong who first having contemned and undervalued a Book yet thought it necessary to be seriously answered Upon my resentment of this injury done me the Authors of that Preface abolished the first leaf but wanting matter to fill up the void space they qualified much the former uncivil language leaving it as it now appears I took the greater care not to give too much offence no the learned Preacher because I had been informed by some of his inward Friends that it was with great unwillingness and out of necessary obedience to one who had right to command him that in a time when a persecution was renewed against Catholicks he took such a subject for his Sermon at Court. And indeed his unwillingness to pursue such a quarrel gives testimony hereto though it is well known that he is not inferiour to Dr. Stillingfleet either in learning language or any abilities to manage a Controversie to the best advantage And I assure youâ— Sir it is a great comfort and satisfaction to poor Catholicks that since they must be persecuted their Persecutors have not been any English Protestants of the ancient stamp but a new adopted race who it seems cannot forget that Catholicks have declared themselves Enemies to the Masters under whom our new Convertists have been bred 70. One Book yet remains and but one which I am concern'd at least to excuse iâ— not to justifiâ— to be free from this crime of reproaching or reviling the English Church For I suppose my Sâ—ncta Sophia and likewise my Reflections on the two Oaths are out of all suspicion at least of this fault That Book is a short Answer to a short Pamphlet published by Mr. Edward Bagshaw a too well known troublesome Sectary in which he undertook to give a deaths-blow to the Infallibity of the Catholick Church But the weapons used by him were so blunt and the arm which wielded them so weak that the stroke was not at all felt The only Motive therefore inducing me to publish an Answer to so unskilful a Controvertist was to discover his ignorant mistaking of the Point controverted and especially his malice against Catholicks which therefore deserved to be apprehended by us because to the disgrace of the Church of England he writes in a stiâ—e as if he would make the world believe that he had a
For Hugh Capet King of France inculcating to his Son the like Veneration made no scruple to stile S. Benedict a Father and Guide to all men an Intercessâ—ur with God for the common salvation of Christians a haven of tranquility a sanctuary of security to men after death And lastly Ludovicus Pius Emperour of Germany and Son to Charles the Great names S. Benedict a blessed man of God replenished with the Holy Ghost 34. Noble Sir if these suffice not to preponderate the censure given by you many more might be added as namely no fewer than above fifty wise and learned men of all Nations almost of Christendom who have thought their labours well spent in writing Commentaries on S. Benedict's Rule I will for the affinity of the subject adjoyn a Vindication of Mr. Cressy who you say Sir if he had not been in love with his own mistakes could not have said that Englands Christianity was established by the Disciples of S. Benedict which supposed mistake you several times repeat 35. To this permit me I beseech you Honoured Sir to say with all due respect to you that the mistake is apparently your own for you understand me as if I had said Christianity had not been planted in our Island before the coming thither of S. Benedicts Disciples Which I could not say without forgetting that my self had in no fewer than the first nine Books of my Church History precisely related the beginning and progress of the Conversiâ—n of the ancient Britains But that which I said was That England or the Country and Nation of the English Saxons who drove the Christian Britains out of our part of the Island was indeed converted by the Disciples of S. Benedict And this truly I must stand to and for a sufficient proof I will oppose to angry Mr. Broughton alledged by youâ— the Authentick Testimonies of far more skilful Antiâ—uaries I dare say even in your opinion who in a Writing signed with their hands and expresly in opposition to Mr. Broughton testifie That whereas he affirmed that the first Converters of the Saxons in England were not Benedictins but Equitians They having spent much time in searching the Antiquities of our Nations do affirm they could find only two sorts of Monks in the Ancient Saxon Churches The first such as followed the Egyptian form of Monachism before S. Austin's arrival and the other Benedictins Companions of S. Austin And as for Equitians no such name was extant in any ancient Record Moreover that whereas they could exactly discover the original and entrance of all other Religiâ—us Ordâ—rs and could name the very years they could not do so of the Benedictins which firmly argues that S. Augustin and his Associates were Benedictins And that this doubtless was the reason of the deep root that Order took in the Kingdâ—m which Order also flourished here in the same Age of S. Augustin ' s arrival as they are assured by invincible Testimonies This Declaration was signed and given by these four knowing and uninteressed persons Sir Robâ—rt Cotton Sir Henry Spelman Mr. Iohn Selden and Mr. William Camden 36. And thus I wâ—ll takâ— my last farewel and leave of S. Benedict wiâ—h a firm resolution leâ— Dr. Stillingfleet say what he please of him or any other Catholick Saint never to defenâ— him more in a Treatise of Controversie unless the said Dâ—ctor will undertake to demonstrate That it is a sufficient cause for any one to desert the Communion of the Catholick Churh because S. Benedict S. Teresa c. are venerated in it And the like leave I take of Sancta Sophia and the Prayer of Contemplation except upon the same terms My desire is he should know that we are very well content with our Fanaticks and Fanaticism And I hope he will not be angry with me for this short Prayer I beseech Almighty God that it may be his holy will and pleasure that England may change her Fanaticks into such as â—urs Amen 37. One Prayer more I will add That it would please God to give to the Doctor and all the Doctors friends a holy ambition to aspire to the practise of Contemplative Prayer though by him so much despised It would among other good effects save him much labour in writing Controversies and it would likewise exceedingly beâ—ter his stile It is too much to be put to the trouble twice to make an Apology for praying to God in the perfectest manner that any one on earth ever prayed Yet not wholly to neglect that passage wherein you thought good to second the Doctor in his Objection against Mr. Cressy his Sancta Sophia I refer you and most humbly beseech you to allow one hour or two in perusing a little Treatise of an unknown Author named The Roman Churches Devotion Vindicated whose answer I believe will satisfie your objection against that Book therefore so contemned by him because collected by Mr. Cressy out of the writings of a Holy person who by most happy experience felt what he wrote and which the Doctor in great humility says he does not understand which is no wonder to any one who defers any thing to the judgment of the greatest Doctors of Gods Church S. Augustin and S. Gregory to whom we may add S. Bernard who all affirm constantly that the secret operations of God in a soul purified from all inordinate affections cannot be understood without experience nor easily expressed when understood by such as God has blessed with experience of them I might add to the same purpose the testimony of a Doctor whose authority I am sure Dr. Stillinfleet dares not except against I mean the Great Doctor of the Gentiles who expresly affirms that the sensual man neither does nor can pâ—ssibly understand them because they are spiritually discerned and therefore no wonder if thâ—y be esteemed foolishness by him who has never experienced them 38. And now truly Honoured Sir I beseeth you to let the Doctor without envy enjoy his peculiar endowment and Priviledge of as some think a graceful Art of deriding Saints and Saintly exercises It appears by all the serious passages of your Book that God has given you a far nobler masculine way of Eloquence Whereas the truth is in this new-fashioned sacred Burlesque you have as yet received do considerable Talent And besides this the Doctor may perhaps be displeased with you and tell you that he has no need of your assistance and that you wrong him in attempting to share in the glory due to him alone and which will make him shine to posterity 39. Thus far I have given you Sir an account of the first ground upon which I judged it no offence to Christian Charity not to flatter Dr. Stillingfleet in censuring his Book His unusual confident and insulting manner of accusing and rendring all Catholicks guilty of the most hainous crime that Christians are capable of committing which is most horrible Idolatry and which renders them indeed no
all these Books be sure not to miss in collecting all the Texts containing Doctrines necessary to his salvation 5. And likewise he must be assured by his own light that he conceives the true sence of all these Texts though he know that there are great quarrels among learned and pious men about the sense of those Texts 6. For he must be obliged to believe that there is not on earth any either Person or Society infallible to which he can be bound in Conscience to submit his judgment or commit the care of his Soul 7. Lastly He must have so firm a memory as to be able to reject Roman Doctrines because not contained in Scripture This is Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England and so firm is the Rock upon which it is grounde 77. Now whether that Church of England wherein we were Christned and when we were Christned relied upon such a Foundation as this may quickly be discovered by reading only her Twentieth Article which begins thus The Church of England surely hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith By the Church here she must needs mean the Governours or Pastours and authorized Teachers of the Church of England for none else meddle in prescribing Ceremonies or determining Controversies of Faith And these saith she have Authority that is no doubt in her meaning not an usurped but lawful Authority And if so then she intends that all her Subjects and Disciples should esteem themselves obliged in Conscience to submit to her Decisions both about Ceremonies and Controversies This submission if any of her Subjects interpret to be only external or to imply no more than not openly refusing Ceremonies or opposing Decisions she will not be contented with it This appears plainly in her Constitutions Established and Published by Regal Authority under the Great Seal of England For from the second Constitution to the tenth all Impugners of the King's Supremacy or that affirm that the Church of England is not a true and Apostolical Church Likewise all Impugners of her Articles of Religion of her Ceremonies of her Government by Bishops of the Form of Ordinations Moreover all Authors of Schisms and Maintainers of Schismaticks all these are denounced Excommunicated ipso facto from which Excommunication they cannot be absolved and restored till after they have repented and publickly revoked such their wicked Errours that is they must acknowledge themselves to have been in an Errour a wicked Errour of which they must repent and publickly revoke it 78. This Authority therefore challenged by the Church of England Established by Law â— is manifestly an Authority over the Souls the Judgment and Belief of her Subjects which Authority Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England does expresly renounce Therefore his is a meer imaginary Church which has no subsistence but only in the fancies of a new brood of men which appeared not in England till Mr. Chillingworth's Book came forth And of such a Church Mr. Chilingworth stood in need because he thought he could with more ease to himself defend Dr. Potter against his Adversary F. Knott by depriving the Church of England of her Authority and laying new Principles of a Church the same which Dr. Stillingfleet has borrowed and artificially spread out and which are greedily embraced by our Young Divines because they reduce the main Dispute between Catholicks and Protestants to an exercise of wit and fancy about Adjectives and Participles ending in bilis and dus and ease them of the same tedious labour of reaâ—ing and citing Fathers and Councils which former learned Controvertists Bishops and Doctors thought necessary to undergo 79. Now the reason why the Church of England assumes an Authority obliging her Subjects to a submission of judgment as well as to external Conformity which other Sects cannot without a shameless impudence pretend to and yet do most tyrannically usurp seems to me to this Because she does not look upon her self to be a new-erected Church but as remaining still a Member of the Catholick Church govern'd by Pastours endowed with Authority received thence and continuing in a Lineal Succession from St. Peter And as supposed a true Member of the Catholick â—hurch her Clergy National or Provincial to have right according to frequent practise in the Ancient Church to call Synods and therein reform Discipline and extirpate such Doctrines as they judge erroneous how far spread soever they may be yet in doing this with the peaceable Spirit of St. Cyprian as to other Churches Neminem judicantes aut à jure Communionis aliquem si diversum senserit amoventes whereby they conclude themselves free from the guilt of Schism Neither yet do they assume to themselves an absolute Infallibility in their Ordinances and Decisions but as your self Sir have intimated in your second Question at the end of your Book assuring themselves that as long as they remain true Members of the Catholick Church they have this kind or degree of Infallibility that they cannot fall into Errours excluding Salvation and thereupon they judge they may oblige their Subjects to a submission of judgment and excommunicate Dissenters since no danger can follow in case it should happen to be an errour to the belief whereof they submit especially considering their constant Profession that they will all conform to the Determinations of a true free and legal General Councill 80. Such a Notion I conceive all English Protestants had of the Church of England and her Authority till Mr. Chillingworth published his Book Upon such grounds I am sure our late worthy and learned Friend Dr. Steward thought he could sufficiently justifie the Church of England against the Roman Catholick Church her imputing Heresie or Schism to Protestants And on the same grounds did the most learned among Protestant Bishops proceed in their Controversies for can you think Sir that Bishop Andrews Bilson Montague Laud Morton c. ever entertained a thought that all Christians whatsoever may with their own Light both find all points of necessary belief in the Scriptures and also comprehend the true sence of them and that not a Soul in England was obliged to believe a word of the Doctrine established 81. Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England therefore seems to me so far from being that Church which has been Established by Law that it is the most irrational Church that ever was The Church of Geneva or Holland or other Calvinists though grounded on this most presumptuous Principle That they judge of Scripture and its sence only by an internal infallible Light of God's Spirit yet that being once supposed they proceed rationally thereon when they oblige all their Subjects to submit their judgments to the Teachings of those respective Churches or to their Synods of Gapâ— Dortâ— c. Whereas Dr. Stillingfleet exempting all persons from an Obligation of yielding an internal Assent to any Decisions made by Superiours dissolves the very nature of a Church and deposes all Superiours 82. But
AN EPISTLE APOLOGETICAL OF S. C. To a Person of Honour Touching his VINDICATION OF Dr. STILLINGFLEET Nec verecundi discunt nec iracundi docent R. Joses Permissu Superiorum An. Dom. MDCLXXIV AN EPISTLE APOLOGETICAL OF S. C. TO A Person of Honour Noble Sir AS soon as advice out of England came to me of the honor done me by an unknown Person of Honour in publickly declaring so inconsiderable a person fit to receive wounds from the Sword of so noble an Antagonist I obtained from the Charity of a Friend to have your Book sent me by the Letter-Post But partly to abate the charges and likewise to disguise the shape of a Book it was folded up in loose sheets with all the Margins close pared to the very quick that it might pass safely as some Merchants Accounts 2. At the first notice of the Tiâ—le I expected that the principal argument of it would be Reprehensions yet I wondered Sir how you should have found matter to fill a Book with Reprehensions After the reading a few pages I found my expectation fully satisfied But withal I perceived you had confounded S. C. with Mr. Cressy as if you were sure they had been one and the same person I might take leave to divide their causes since I have no reason having been discovered by your self to be answerable for whatsoever can be laid to the charge of every Individuum vagum whose true or supposed names begin with the two letters S. C. Yet this shall not hinder the joyning this particular S. C. with my self in this Apology as one guilty or innocent person 3. In the first place therefore I assure you Noble Sir that since you have so highly honoured me as to declare your self my friend and a friend till of late constantly the same during the prodigious changes of the last fifty years I am prepared to receive whatsoever Reprehensions come from such a Person not only with patience but gratulation considering that in case they be just it will be a happiness to receive my punishment and confusion in this world and if not well grounded you have given me an opportunity to justifie my self and thereby to obtain a return to your favour 4. Now in perusing your Animadversions I find not only my manner of treating with Dr. Stillingfleet severely condemned but more than the Title of your Book requir'd a terrible Censure fixâ—d on many of my actions and on whatsoever writings I have hitherto published and this Censure threatning not only great danger to my self but also to my Friends and Superiors yea moreover my secret thoughts and intentions by a strange Telescope it seems discovered have been exposed to the worlds eye and aggravated by an Elâ—quence befitting the greatest Orator of our Natiâ—n 5. Forasmuch as concerns Dr. Stillingfleet he will certainly never be able to avoid the odious Character and brand of ingratitude if he do not shew himself in an extraordinary measure sensible of the signal obligations he has to your tenderness towards him since to pleasure him though in a sort a stranger to you or of a very fresh and feeble acquaintance the reputation of an ancient Friend has been exposed to publick obloquy Not any bâ—rren thanks nor a Book written in your commendations will suffice to acquit him of such â—n obligation If he have therefore any spark of generosity oâ— but of good nature in him he wiâ—l employ all his credit and intâ—râ—st tâ— fix you in the publick favour both of the Court and Kingdom And what cannot his credit and râ—commendation effect since the whole Nation not its Representative only is eternally obnoxious to him for his discovery of new and never before suspected crimes in Roman Catholicks for the expiation of which not all the former Laws how terrible soever will be sufficient 6. But alas Sir I fear your self have obstructed a passage for it For either you are not rightly inform'd of the present temper of our Nation or out of the generous frankness of your nature you cannot perswade your self to comply with it and therefore even in this very Book published under the Patronage of Dr. Stillingfleet himself you speak your own sincere charitable thoughts of Roman Catholicks as if according to your judgment and desire some indulgence and relaxation of former severity might justly be extended to them yea that if even Catholick Priests themselves could agree to offer a sufficient Profession of Loyalty their erroneous Doctrines touching Transubstantiation Purgatory c. could not justly render them Criminals to the State And moreover not content with this you are pleas'd particularly to adorn with some commendations the Order of the Benedictins for their duty and respects shewed to his Majesty neither have you any suspicion of disloyalty in any of them except only in my self for having left out in the second Edition of my Exomologesis a reasonably sufficient Form of Profession of Fidelity 7. Honoured Sir to write thus concerning his Majesties Catholick Subjects or to express any Charity or compassion towards them becomes truly a Person of Honour and it will I doubt not in a good measure conciliate the favour of Almighty God to you and be a powerful expedient to put you in a good way towards your heavenly Country for Charity will cover a multitude of sins But I fear it will much prejudice you in any wordly pretensions For how wide think you will the mouths of the populace and of Sectary Demagogues be opened against you This Person of Honour will they say does not much approve of our burning the Pope in Effigie and in all his Pontificals neither will he be much pleased with our Witty Dialogue between the Pope and the Devil c. Perhaps he is a States-man and will not think sit so publick an affront despightful contempt should be shewed to one who though a Bishop is a great Temporal Prince and when he is treated with by any State divided from him in regard of Belief or Ecclesiastical Subjection as lately by the Moscovite addresses are made with all due respect whereas such rude inhumanity none but our late English Zealots esteem a virtue and Character of their thrice Reformed Christianity ¶ 1. Of the sharpness of my stile against Dr. Stilfleet 8. BUT leaving this general excursion I will hereafter Honoured Sir endeavour to give you the best satisfaction I can in order to the several special Points of accusation charged on mâ— Among which I ought in reason to begin as your self has done with that which was the occasion of the writing and publishing your Animadversions on my Book viz. My much condemned sharpness of stile against Dr. Stillingfleet and his Book 9. Sir that Controversies among Christians especially about matters which regard Religion ought by no means to prejudice Charity we all acknowledge Yet withal that sharpness of stileâ— and even bitter Invectives both against Persons Tenents and Practices may in some cases be made use of
without prejudice to Charity yea that Charity it self oâ—t requires them we must likewise acknowledge especially when those who are enemies to Truth or Piety are high in popular esteem for zeal and learning as the Pharisees were among the Iews and thereby give credit and authority to errors and suggestions of cruelty Otherwise we must condemn Moses and the Prophets under the Old Law and S. Iohn Baptist the Apostles and several among the Holy Fathers of God's Church under the New yea we must not except our Blessed Saviour who is Charity it self from our Censure whose sharp reprehensions neither the High Priests Scribes and Pharisees nor King Herod himself no not his own beloved Apostle escaped 10. Therefore before we can give an equal judgment whether and how far reprehensions deserve to be reprehended we ought impartially to consider the motives and grounds of them And to this tryal I most willingly submit my self before all indifferent judges and particularly the genuine learned Protestant Clergy of the English Church insomuch as if they shall determine that in my late to me unusual manner of treating with Dr. Stillingfleet I have offended against Christian Charity or purposely intended to fix any dishonourable brand on the English Protestant Church and the Doctrine or Discipline of it established by Law I will be ready without any reply to suffer whatsoever censure or punishment they shall think fit to inflict on me 11. And noble Sir if now after Sentence pronounc'd by you against me it may be permitted me to petition for a Revision of Iudgment I do not know the proper Law Term I do confidently perswade my self that you will in your own thoughts a little qualifie the rigour of your sentence and not look on me as a person who for one fault against a Doctor almost â— strâ—nger to you has deserved not only to be depriv'd of the happiness of fifty yâ—ars continued favour but moreover to be exposâ—d to the world as a virulent Calumniator of the English Church and to his Sacred Majesties Indignation as a defamer of one of his Royal Ancestours King Henry the Eighth and to the Honourable Parliament and Tribunals of the Kingdoms Iustice as a delinquent beyond all others deserving the utmost severity of the Law and lastly to the haâ—â—ed of all persons of Honour or Vâ—rtue as a most ungrateful infamous detracter from the fame and reputation of the most obliging generous friend that ever was my most dear Lord and Benefactor Lucius Viscount Falkland 12. Now honoured Sir my hope is it will not encrease your anger if I endeavour to clear my self the best I can of these dangerous imputations Yea moreover I am willing to comfort my self in a perswasion if I had had the happiness of a fit opportunity to have evidently demonstrated to you that had you not been wronged by a malicious Informer you would have spared most of these criminal accusations against me and have been a little more tender of my reputation and of the safety of my life My humble suit to you therefore is that at least you would be pleased your self to read this short Apology which I am forced to publish since your concealing your self disenables me to present it to you in writing ¶ 2. The first Motive of the Sharpness against Dr. Stillingfleet was his unusual odious way of managing Controversie 13. BUT I must apply my self first to what concerns Dr. Stillingfleet which occasioned your adding other far more criminal accusationsâ— and of greater danger against me And truly Sir I am sorry that being in conscience obliged once for all to endeavour to clear my self in this point also I cannot possibly do it without danger of renewing the Doctâ—rs personal resentments and yours also against me in case what I shall say touching the Motives inducing me to write in a stile which would have been unpardonable in a Book of Controversie wherein only Catholick Doctrines were to be defended shall give you no satisfaction But you will be pleased to consider that now I only declare what I then thought when that Book against the Doctor was written not what I now at present think And I leave it to the judgment of all men who are able to read his Book and this Epistle whether there was not exceeding great probability and more then sufficient grounds to induce me to suspect him of a design therein in a high degree contrary to Christian Charity and even to humaâ—ity However in some way of compâ—nsation this advantage against me I will freely yiâ—ld him That in case any more such quarrâ—lsom matter from whoâ—e pen soever shall come ouâ— aâ—ainst me I will not defend my self except I be commanded by such as have right to dispose of my Pen or unlâ—ss by false accusation I be arraigned at the Bar of Iuâ—tice and perhaps not then neither in all Points 14. Whereas you say Honâ—ured Sir that my fault was therefore inexcusâ—ble because I had not any provocation tâ— write in such a manner against a person of so dove-like a mildness with the softness gentleness and civility of whose language you say you have been exceedingly delighted c. I beseech you be pleased to consider that no personal provocation or contemptuous reflections were cast by the Doctor on me but only in regard of my Book called Sancta Sophia And I do assure you that though perhaps the reading of them might at first have a little warm'd my blood especially such incivility coming from a person with whom I never had any commerce at all and whose name I had never mentioned yet I should never have judged fit that a resentment of a few phrases of disparagement should be the argument of a Book to be publishâ—d to the world We as Christians must expect to go to heaven per infamiâ—m bonam famam Bâ— pleased therefore to believe that it was not my self that I considered when I wrote my Book but the wrong done to the Catholick Church in his Answer to another particular Adversary and the ruine of all English Catholicks which seemed not to me only but generally to all Catholicks of my acquaintance yea and to many Protestants also to have been the principal Design of his Book That therefore for which very many bâ—sides my self thought Dr. Stillingâ—fleet exceedingly blame-worthy was his unusual unseemly way of managing the Controversie against the Catholick Church Nâ—xt his cruel timing of it 15. First then consider I beseech you Sir impartially the Doctor 's bâ—haviour in the former regard and judge whether he did not renounce all moderation and charity in charging in a most tragical manner the Catholick Church upon three or four accounts with most horribble worse then heathenish Idolatry as also his employing the utmost of his invention all his Logick and Rhetorick to render us upon that account odious and fit to be exterminatedâ— but especially his doing this in quality of an authorized English Protestant as if
Christians and after he had thus declared us fit objects of publick detestation to expose us to publick scorn also as Members of a Church guided by false lights and Fanatical Enthusiasms This is a way of disputing against the Catholick Church hitherto unpractised and therefore an unpractised way of answering seemed to me requisite 40. You may remember Sir the proceedings of the ancient Factionists against the Church of England called Puritans Their Zealots did you no considerable mischief by arguments from reason or authority contained in their Books their Lectures or Exercises But as soon as they found out the art to instil into the minds of the baser sort of their fâ—llowers a Contempt of the Conforming Clergy and rendred your solemn Church-Service your Organs Musick your Copes Surplices Canonical Habits c. a spectacle of derision and sport to them this sport was quickly turned into sad earnest It was scarce saâ—e for a Clergy-man decently habited to appear in the streets of London and not long after they were not safe in their private Country houses Now if the authority of Laws and Governours could not protect against the rude fury of the people the Professors and Teachers of the Religion by Law established in the Kingdom What were we to expect being expos'd to the publick view of mankind as we have been by the Doctor in so odious so deformed and also ridiculous a dress ¶ 3. Of the season cruelly chosen by Dr. Stillingfleet for publishing his Books a second motive of sharpness 41. YET noble Sir this bitter Cup prepared for us might have been recâ—ived and also perhaps drunk by us without extreme danger had it not been presented us in so unlucky a season We had by his Sacred Majesty's gracious Indulgence enjoyed several years a moderate repose A storm indeed now and then began to rise against us yet through God's merciful providence they were asswaged But of late a furious Tempest we know not from what Coast began to threaten an unavoidable Shipwrack to us and this just at a time when we thought we had reason to believe our selves secure in the haven This now iâ— seems was the season long expected and almost despaired of by Dr. Stillingfleet wherein he might empty his Quiver full of fiery darts against his peaceable fellow Subjects And therefore not to lose the opportunity it has generally been observed that the Books written by him against Roman Catholicks Printed and Re-printed were still reserved till a new Session was to begin lâ—â—t otherwise in the time of a Prorogation they might have had small effect 42. Not Catholicks only but many English Protestants both of the Clergy and Laity conceived great indignation at such cruelty proceeding from a Preacher of the Gospel Which indignation was much encreased because they interpreted his violence against Catholicks to have been an effect of great disrespect and ingratitude to his Majesty against whose Indulgence to his faithful Subjects the Dâ—ctor seemed tacitly to nourish discontent in the Kingdom and this after himself and his friends not long before had received an incomparable benefit by the like gracious Indulgence 43. Now Honoured Sir in such circumstances as these it being necessary some Answer should be published to his Book and Mr. Cressy being personally glanced at in an uncivil manner and for his sake the most excellent instructions for Holiness of life and Purity of Prayer that were ever published in the English Tongue disgracefully traduced was it so great a crime in me to tell the world which truly I still believe to be a Truth that scarce any Book has been written against the Catholick Church wherein there was less force for disproving of any of her established Doctrines or more force for the procuring the ruine of those innocent persons among us who profess those Doctrines If a sense of the deplorable condition which I easily foresaw ready to befal the generality of Roman Catholicks and upon which not I alone judged his Books to have a considerable influence drew from my pen a few sharp phrases and reproofs without the least harm or danger to him Can you with equity meerly out of regard to the Doctor 's person and vain râ—putation think fit to revenge his quarrel against me by aggravating in a too tragical stile all the faults of which you either by knowledge suspicion or report judged me to be guilty of which some there are which in case your accusation be as probably it will be a Conviction expose more besides my self to the utmost danger of the Law as Traytors and the rest to the highest displeasure and resentments of my Lords the Bishops and other our worthy friends among the English Clergy yea even of his Majesty himself which I thought I never had and I am sure I never intended to incur This surely was a way of reparation for the Doctors honour as you suppose violated by me beyond what I bâ—lieve himself expected or desired since I am confident whatsoever wrong he may think I have done him it never entred so deeply into his mind as to deprive him of one half hours sleep or to urge him to wish my death 44. Well Noble Sir if I was indeed faulty I am sorry for it And yet in case the Doctor was to blame in his manner of stating the Controversies and especially in his unhappy timing of them I believed that I could not in a bâ—tter manner exercise Christian Charity to himâ— then by endeavouring to discover to him plainly and without a complemental Civility his Transgression against Charity which transgression notwithstanding if I should judge to amount to so high a degree as to bâ—liâ—ve that he either did design or now takes pleasure in the present ruine of Catholicks I should my self also be a Transgressor against Charity 45. But now Sir as I take the boldness to declare the reasons why I think I did not deserve so heavy a Censure for treating with Dr. Stillingfleet in a stile different from that which becomes those who seriously debate Controversies in Religion So neither will I so far justifie my self as to pretend that my Book ought to be exempt altogether from a just râ—prehension for the too free scope which the Author gave to his though not unreasonably grounded indignation Yea moreover in one regard I do sincerely acknowledge a blame-worthy faultiness in my self which consists in taking upon me a liberty to judge rashly of his thoughts and secret intentions Whereas therefore from a consideration of his Principles much different from thâ— grounds on which former English Protestant proceeded I represented Dr. Stillingfleet a having a design of undermining the Authority of the English Prelacy and as continuing a secret correspondence with the Sects declared enemies to the Hierarchy among whom he had had his Education and against whom therefore since his relinquishing them he had never employed his Pen These and other the like reflections on him to his disadvantage I do sincerely
Purgatory I should answer wiâ—h passionate Protestations that I never knew of the one or the other till I saw the second Impression That my Superiours were offended with the first c. 59. Sir unless you do believe or would have the world believe that I have made shâ—p wrack of all common honesty and veracity you will have some regard to the account I shall now give with relation to this Accusation In the year 1652. I received at Doway a Letter from a Friend in England signifying that the Impression of that Book being spent he was willing if I thought good to reprint it at his own cost This Offer I was not unwilling to accept and thereupon prepared and sent him about a Sheet full of Additions and Alterations But I protest as in the presence of God that I cannot remember that one line of reproach against the Church of England was added by me which if I had done in such a time when savage Beasts had left that Church desolate would have been an act of most barbarous inhumanity for which I should never have forgiven my self If therefore any such Additions be to be found I do with a clear Conscience disclaim them But truly Sir I think there are none such for I have employed Friends to examine and compare the two Impressions and they could not show me any True it is they have found several passages wherein my stile has been much sharpened but those passages only regard Presbyterians and other Sects which insulted on a Church which they thought they had destroyed and the Revenues of which they had sacrilegiously divided among themselves If this was a fault at least it was not committed against the Church of England 60. In the next place as touching two Omissions very considerable objected against me and an Expostulation of a Protestant Friend about them and also about my pretended Addition of virulent Expressâ—â—ns against the Clergy of England I remember such an Expostulation and never having had the patience to read twice over mine own Writings much less to compare the Editions I might believe that he had certain grounds to objâ—ct both these matters to me and therefore in my answer to him I might protest against having any hand in such alterations But that I imputed them to my Superiours Commands or that they had ordered the Impression of the Book without communicating it to me this I do utterly protest against and I take God to witness that my Superiours never required any Alterations to be made nor interested themselves in the Impression but left the whole business to my self alone 61. The two Omissions are objected by you in these terms In the second Impression the Protestatiâ—n of Duty and Obedience which was in the first was totally left out it being not thought a fit Obligation for the Catholicks to enter into Truly Honoured Sir this is a terrible Inference even in case there had been such an Omission And yet it would have pleased me if it had proceeded only from such a Pen as is that of the Author of the Seasonable Discourse who as I am now informed seeking poyson wheresoever he can hope to find it has transcribed this passage into a later Book called The Difference between the Church and Court of Rome and moreover as became him has made an Addition of one falsity more saying that Mr. Cressy having in the first Edition of his Exomologesis made a Protestation of his Duty and Obedience to the Churches Authority corrected it in the second Who can hinder such Pens from sprinkling their Venâ—m where they please But the comfort is no man sure will take him for A Person of Honour You add the Discourse made of Purgatory was likewise left out because I had mistaken the Tenent of my new Church in that particular Truly Sir I was extreamly surprised at the reading this passage and never having read or compared the two Impressions I did not doubt of mine own guilt yet not of mine own but of him who had taken the care of the Press for I was assured I had never ordained such Omissions But as soon as I had recourse to the Books my surprise but on a quite different ground was renewed and a great joy I had also in pâ—rceiving that your severe Accusations of me were not grounded on any discoveries made by your self for it is manifest that you never yet read my last Edition but upon a false malicious Information given to you by some one wâ—o was desirous to incâ—nsâ— you against me and knew there was no way thereto more effectual than by painting me as a virulent enemy of the English Protestant Clergy and â—â—â—noâ—ncer also oâ— my Fidelity to Hâ—◠〈◊〉 I confess I wondred if any person of your condition should have had the patience to read and with attention compare any thing written by so worthless a Pâ—n 〈◊〉 mine But since it is not your self that I must now contradict but a malicious Informer who has wronged both your self and me give me leave to say to that Informer that there is not a word of truth in what he lays to my charge for neither the Profession of Duty and Obedience nor the Discourse of Purgatory have been omitted in the second Impression no nor one line word or syllable changed by me in either as your own eyes may inform you in the Pages 44â— and 442. of the second Imprâ—ssion and 76â— and 612. of the first Only whereas there was a tedious insinuating Preface before the Profession of Duty intended by way of Supplication to have been presented to the Parliament he who took care of the Impression thought â—it to leave it out and indeed that he had reason not to swell the Book with such unconcâ—rning stuff your self if you read it will easily be of the same mind There being therefore no omission of the Professiion of Obedience a reason cannot be given of that which is not Yet a reason has been given not by your self certainly but by your false Informer and a reason of a very dangerous consequence not to my self only but my Superiours also as if we repented and revoked a Testimony of our Fidelity as not a fit Obligation for Catholicks to enter into But now Honoured Sir after all I will take the boldness freely to tell you that I am heartily sorry that that Form of Profession of Duty had not been quite left out and I believe I shall before I conclude this Apology give you a sufficient reason for it but quite different from that mentioned by you 62. Yet I do not pretend so wholly to justifie my self as not to acknowledge that there may have unwarily flowed from my Pen some few Phrases and Expressions distasteful to the English Clergy even to such as in an especial manner honoured me with their friendship Among which there are two particular passâ—ges which have given great offence to a worthy Prelate whose savour and kindnessâ— I had from my
younger years enjoyed in Oxford That which he esteemed both most false and injurious was my saying That the Presbyterians had constrained the whole Kingdom to forswear the Religion in which they had been bred But truly under favour I do not understand wherein this Expression was either false or injurious to Loyal Protestants For certain it is that at the time to which that Speech had relation the King's Enemies were de facto Masters of the Kingdom and that all the Authority and Power both at Westminster and in the Field were employed most unjustly to constrain all men to swear to the Scottish Covenant In which they so far prevailed that the whole face of the Kingdom both as to Doctrine and Discipline was entirely changed and become Presbyterian And this was all that I did or could mean by that expression the truth whereof was too too manifest To whom therefore any injury was done by me in that passage I cannot yet imagine For though it was too true that the whole Kingdom as to the publick profession and practise had forsworn the former established Religion yet it does not hence follow neither had I the least thought of inferring such a consâ—quence that all yea or that any considerable number of English Protestants had subscribed and sworn to the Covenant no more than that Roman Catholicks had done so On the contrary I knew that both the English Clergy and Protestant Gentry had generally suffered the loss of their Churches and Estates for refusing to take the Covenant and to acknowledge the Vsurpers Authority â— Neither had I the least thought that â—he foresaid publick Change introduced by Violence and Tyranny had diminished the Right which the Protestant Religion had to be justly esteemed the Religion of the Kingdom no more than thâ— Vsurpers invading the Regal Throne could any way prejudice His Majesties Title thereto 63. But a second passage there is offensive to the said Venerable Prelate which I do acknowledge more difficult to be deâ—enâ—ed or excused It is my saying That several of the wisest and learnedst of the Clergy had been content to buy their security with a vâ—luntary degrading of themselves from their Offices and Titles Now in some degree to qualifie a resentment which the English Clergy may not unreasonably conceive from this passage that which I have to represent is That when I wrote the Book I was in a Foreign Country so that whatsoever I could write touching our own Affairs I must have received from Information by Letters or Friends And by such Information I wrote this particular passage 'T is true before I left this Kingdom the unworthy miscarriage of that ungrateful perfidious Prelate D. Williams Archbishop of York was publickly known and abominated And too credulous I was of some few Examples of something alike though far less heinous a nature which were written or brought out of England to the place where I then resided which I afterwards found to have been groundless but till now too late for me thus publickly to disavow 64. Before I quit this trouble some Book my Exomologesis I conceive my self obliged to do right to a learned Doctor of the Church of England Dr. Tillotson who in a Book written against another Catholick Adâ—eâ—saâ—y takes occasion quasi aliud agens to produce a passage in my Exomologesis changed in the second Impression and as he affirms changed with great disingenuity A Copy of his Book I have not at present and therefore I cannot cite his words but to my best remembrance they regarded a saying of mine in the 40. Chapter of my Exomologesis of the first Impression wherein I had called the word Infallible a word to me unfortunate and I had also said that Mr. Chillingworth combaâ—ed with that word with too much success Whereas in the second Impression that same passage which by a new division of the parts of the Book fâ—ll to be in the 20. Chapter of the second Section was so changed as to impute the said success and unfortunateness not with regard to Catholicks but himself only and has followers who to their great harm took advantage unnecessarily of the utmost importance of the said word beyond what his Adversary would have required And as for Catholick Controvertists â— I endeavoured to excuse their employing that word to signifie thereby alone the unappealable Authority of the Cathâ—lick Church I câ—nnot with any confidence affirm that I have given an exact account of the particular proofs alledged by Doctor Tillotson â— to justifie his impuâ—ing to me a very mis-becoming disingeruity in the alteration madâ— Neiâ—her is it needful the fault being manifest But I am willing that my Pen should here publickly acknowledge the justice of that imputation and I will not give cause a second time to have the same disingenuity laid to my charge for I will very simply and ingenuously relate the occasion and motive of the said disingenuous change which was this A certain ancient Vâ—nâ—rable Religious Father who for School-Learning and skill in the Canon-Law was the most eminent pâ—rson in all these Provinces knowing my intention to râ—print my Exomologesis and beingâ— I conceive not well pleased that a dis-reputation should be cast on that sort of Learning in which he excelled earnestly suggested to me a qualification of the said passage in my Book and withal assured me that the Censure I had given of an expression or Term for so many agâ—s in general use among Catholick Controvertists and Schoolmen would every where givâ— great offence And therefore though he would by no means counsel me to prejudice Truth yet that it was not always necessary to discover every thing that is true Therefore his advice was that in the new Impression I should retrench so much in that Chapter as reflected with disadvantage on those Catholick Writers who made use of the word Infallibility Thus he advised me and thus out Reverence to the person I complyâ—d with his desire For which I cannot as I said before blame Dr. Tillotson for charging me with disingenuity 65. The next Book which I justly pretend to be guiltless of the crime of reviâ—ing the Church of England is a short Treatise named an Appendix in which are cleared câ—rtain mis-constructions of my Exomologists â— published by I. P. Author of the Preface bâ—fore my Lord Falklandâ—s Discourse of Infallibility which is annexed at the end of the second Impression of my Exomologesis The said Author I. P. I never had the happiness to know but I wish if Catholick Religion must be opposed it may always find such â—dâ—ersaries that is persons endowed with very considerable parts of learning and acuteness enabling them with as much advantage as their cause will afford to maintain it and in maintaining it not to wander into unnecessary excursions and to use a stile though not void of sharpness yet such a sharpness as will not be ungrateful even to their opponents much less expose them and all
Commission from the Protestant Clergy to be their common Advocate and in their names to vent his own impotent malice for throughout the whole Book he shâ—ws himself exceeding zealous to defend forsooth the Protestant Church of England and not his own miserable Sect against the Papists Now who could restrain indignation hearing such an one crying out aloud We apples swim This short Treatise of mine therefore at least I believe will escape your Censure 71. These are the Books Honoured Sir which I judged reasonable and requisite to be ranged in a rank divided from that which was written against Dr. Stillingfleet In all which a Controversie in several Points being debated against the Doctrines of the Church of England I could not without shewing my self a Prevaricatour abstain from imputing Errors to Protestants and shewing the â—ll consequences of such errors but it was never my intention to give any scope to unseemly passions against persons from none of whom I had received any injuries but on the contrary from many of the most considerable among them not a few signal obligations If now and then an unwary phrase has drop'd from my pen and I am sure there are not many such I shall be far from justifying them but on the contrary I here publickly revoke them And for the future I dare challenge even Dr. Stillingfleet himself to try his skill upon me whether by any contempt either of my Person or Writings he can force me to answer in a language which shall need such another Apology Some worthy friends â—old me that there was at this time a necessity I should endeavour to excuse my self from acknowledging the justice of all your severe sentences against me considering that others also were wounded by them But certainly one Apology against personal imputations will be sufficient and God willing I shall spend my declining days more to the profit of my soul by silence and patiently suffering injuries though silence should be interpreted a confusion of guiltâ— then by composing with great loss of precious time and publishing Books regarding the qualities of persons which Books are scarce ever half so long-liv'd as a yearly Almanack and which serve only to increase the uncharitableness and injustice of this present age in which men will be sure to censure all Books and Persons and are indifferent whether they condemn the Plaintiff or Defendant or both ¶ 6. There was no intention of Reviling the Church of England in my Book against D. Stillingfleet 72. NOW I come to the fatal Book against Dr. Stillingfleet touching Fanaticism which forced you Sir to open a passage to all your indignation against me for my reviling reproaches against the Church and Clergy of England I fear now that no excuse of so great a crime will be admitted by you and that to pretend to justifie my self would be taken for an affront Yet Sir truth is bold and I dare pretend not only to justifie my intention and manner of writing in such a stile but my hope also that the said Book would deserve to be favourably accepted by the English Clergy 73. Now the ground of my justification is a firm perswasion that the present Church of England is the very same that it was when both of us received our Baptism in it by which Baptism we became Members under favour not of the Church of England but of that Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church of the belief of which our God-fathers and God-mothers made a publick Profession for us 74. This perswasion therefore remaining still the same I do confidently affirm and I protest my intention to have been that not any of those sharp phrases and Invectives ought with any justice to be interpreted as meant against the Church of England or the the Doctrines and Discipline of it established by Law but only against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church which he desires indeed should pass for the Church of England but which really is removed from it at a greater distance and opposition than is the Church of Geneva And to demonstrute this it will be sufficient to take a prospect first of the fabrick of Dr. Stillingfleet's English Church framed by himself upon Mr. Chillingworth's Authority and next of the Church of England established by Law as she represents her self in her Articles of Religion and Ecclesiastical Constitutions 75. First then Dr. Stillingfleet has made his Church perfectly visible throughout even from its very foundations or Principles of which the two most considerable and which involve all the rest are the thirteenth and the fifteenth The words are these Such a particular way of Revelation being made choice of by God for the means of making known his wâ—ll in order to the happiness of mankind as writing we may justly say that it is repugnant to the nature of the Design and the Wisdâ—m and Goodness of God to give infallible assurance to persâ—ns in writing his will for the benefit of mankind if those Writings may not be understood by all persons who sincerely endeavour to know the meaning of them in all such things as are necessary for their salvation And consequently There can be no necessity supposed of any infallible Society of men either to attestâ— or explain those Writings among Christians 76. Is such a Church as this Honoured Sir securely grounded Can you think it a crime in anâ— rational man to call this Church fanatical But why do I talk of a Church In all the Doctors Principles there is no mention of any Church at all as a Teacher or Interpreterâ— not the least regard had to such needless persons as Teachers or Governours Bishops or Presbyters All are sheep without shepherds or shepherds without sheep There is nothing to be found I mean for his sort of Protestants but a Book which all must read though they cannot read and in it find the way to heaven a thing so easie in the Doctor 's opinion that even the blindest man cannot miss it so he will consult that Book But I must recal my word The Doctor indeed does mention a Church or Society and that an infallible one but it is only mentioned to be rejected Now certainly if he rereject that Church which if any Church can have any obliging Authority may challenge the greatest on earth he will much more reject any inferiour Authority or Church Yet since he will take it ill if we do not call an Assembly of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Church please to consider that in this Church every man the most ignorant and stupid must by his own light know first that God has left his whole will touching his salvation in Writing 2. That this Writing comprehendeth thirty eight Books given by God to the Iews and twenty to Christians 3. All these Books this ignorant man must by his own light still know to be both safely conveyed and truly translated though he be not able to read either the Original or Translation 4. He must out of
then we all have in our whole body The Protector indeed was the great Apostle of the Kingdom but his Mission he must have receivâ—d from his Pupil both to preach a new Faith and to consummate former Sacriledge In the mean time the humble Archbishop remained in expectation what he was to believe and in an uncertainty whether his Ordination weâ—e valid or not I will end tâ—is matter with the Character of Cranmer given by Duditius an eminâ—nt Protestant Cranmâ—r â— says he seems to have been bâ—rn and framed for dissimulation which quality he made use of in all things through his whole life ¶ 10. Of the Re-Ordination imputed to Catholicks 96. THis word Ordination puts me in mind of a dangerous Question which you thought fit to propose How Mr. Cressy and the rest who have received Orders in the Church of England can justifie or excuse their being Re-ordained after they change their Religion since so many Councils have declared against it and no one for it and since the succession of Bishops is as plainly manifest in one Church as in the other And what difference can there be assigned why such as the Greek Church who come to them are not Re-ordained but thâ—se of the Church of England are compelled to be 87. Noble Sir for any thing that appears in your Animadversions you may be one of the honourable Iudges and perhaps possessed of the highest Office of Iudiâ—â—ture and therefore I humbly take leave in answering this Question to leave out Mr. Cressy's name since he is loth to write and publish any thing that may pass absolutely for an evidence under his own hand against his own life in case he be suspected to be concerned in this matter as you say absolutely he is Indefinitely speaking therefore and without a dangerous reflâ—ction on any one those of the English Clergy returning to the Catholick Church are not permitted to exercise the Sacerdotal Office without being â—as you stile it Re-ordained but in Catholick language simply Ordained and of this several reasons are given I will only name one but such an one against which I cannot imagine a possible Reply and that is a consideration how the Form of Ordination and Consecration was purposely and studiously changed by the Church of England to shew that she renounced that Function which by the Catholick Church yea by the Greekish and all ancient Churches was esteemed formally essential to Priesthood which is Confâ—cereâ— offerre Corpus Domini She will have Priests but she will have no Sacrifice which two I believeâ— have never been divided by any Christian Church before the last Aâ—e So that though the present new Form considered simply in it self did not invalidate Ordination for the Greek Church also Ordains in a Form different from the Roman yet the declaring such to have been the Motive and ground of the change most certainly does And that this was the Motive seems to me evidently collected from the 31. Article of the Church of England The words are these The Offering of Christ once madeâ— is that perfect Redemption Propiâ—iation and Satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actualâ— and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the Sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priests did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits Hence it is plain that the Church of England renounces that Function which the Catholick Church esteems essential to Priesthood and consequently in England Priesthood seems to be a new quite different Order and far from being the same which is conâ—erred in and by the Roman Church Therefore I conceive Sir you had noâ— much cause to wonder or blame Catholick Churches for not admitting such persons to exercise the Functions of Priesthood since neither their Ordainers nor they themselves ever had nor intended to have such Functions or Faculties conferred on them but on the contrary esteemed them in a high measure injurious to our Saviour's Priesthood ¶ 11. Of several speculative Pâ—ints of Controverted Doctrines Of a State-Religion And of Professions of Loyalty â—8 THâ—se Noble Sir are the several Crimes laid to my charge I mean such as personally regard my self alone And thâ—se are my respective Answers There may possibly be some more besides these in your Animadversions which have escaped my Observation though I think there are none so considerable as would much oblige me to lengthen this Apology a work God willing which shall be the last of this nature There is another great Crime far more hainous than all thâ—se of which not my self alone but many others better than my self are eithâ—r accused by you or rendred shrewdly suspâ—cted which is a want or perhaps a disability of giving satisfaction to the State of our Fidelity to his Majesty This is in several places repeated by you and most accurately descanted on among your nine Questions near the conclusion of your Book 99. This is indeed a subject of great concern and therefore deserves a more serious application it being also the last ground of reprehension with an Answer whereto my purpose is to conclude this Apology For honoured Sir I beseech you not to take it ill or interpret it a neglect that I am silent with regard to several passages in your Animadversions since the whole design of this Apology is the endeavouring to qualifie the Indignation which you have conceived against me and I doubt imprinted in the minds of too many besides Whereas therefore you have inserted Reflections and Censures on several speculative Points of Catholick Doctrine I may justly be dispensed with for interesting my self in such a subject especially considering that I do not find that you have a purpose to make Controversie your serious employment It any professed Protestant Controvertist shall borrow from you any arguments against Catholick Tenents which he knew noâ— before as truly Doctor Stillingfleet may from your Discourse touching the nature of a Church which is far less irrational than his own he may then begin to speak de tribus Capellis 100. The sum of what you write Sir on this subject seems to me to be this 1. You lay a certain new ground of your Discourse which is that besides Christian Religion considered according to its essentials which are exceedingly few and which are absolutely unchangeable there ought to be acknowledged another Christian State-Religion containing other Doctrines not essential both regarding belief and discipline which may be altered approved or rejected by a National Church though never so far spread or never so long continued 2. In consequence hereunto you require me to explain what is the full intent of that spiritual Power which we acknowledge in the Pope over England and whether it be more than is granted by the Sovereign Power and Municipal Laws of the Kingdom 3. And from