above p. 48. 10. Transubstantiation the peculiar Dictrine of the Church of Rome see p. 50. XIV Of the SACRIFICE of the MASS 1. A Discourse concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass XV. Of the ADORATION of the HOST 1. A Discourse of the Adoration of the Host XVI Of COMMUNION in BOTH KINDS 1. A Discourse of Communion in One Kind in Answer to the Bishop of Meaux 2. A Demonstration that the Church of Rome and her Councils have Erred touching Communion in One Kind XVII of the RULE c. of FAITH 1. A Discourse concerning a Guide in Matters of Faith. 2. The Protestant Resolution of Faith. 3. Of the Authority of Councils and of the Rule of Faith. XVIII Of the Holy SCRIPTURE 1. An Answer to the Request to Protestants 2. A Summary of the Principal Controversies betwixt the Church of England and the Church of Rome 3. The Lay-Christian's Obligation to read the Scripure 4. The Peoples Rights to read the Scripture 5. The Protestant and Popish way of Interpreting Scripture impartially compared in Answer to Pax Vobis See other Discourses above p. 38 39. XIX Of TRADITION Discourse about Tradition 2. An Historical Discvourse concerning Tradition 3. The Council of Trent examined and disproved by Catholic Tradition See more Discourses above p. 40 41 42. To which I must add an Excellent Treatise omitted in its proper place but which ought not by any means to be forgotten called 4. A Treatise of Traditions In 2 Parts XX. Of the CHURCH 1. A Discourse of the Unity of the Catholic Church maintained in the C. of E. 2. A Discourse of the Charge of Novelty brought against the Ch. of E. 3. The Notes of the Church See above p. 26. 4. Of the Unity and Authority of the Church See Discourses above p. 28. To which we must add a Book since published which ought by no means to be forgotten being as we are assured the Genuine Issue of the Great and Admired Bishop Sanderson It is called 5. A Discourse concerning the Church in these following Particulars 1. Concerning the Visibility of the True Church 2. Concerning the Church of Rome 3. Concerning Protestant Churches 4. An Answer to the Question Where was your Church before Luther 6. Of the Autority and Infallibility of the Church Several Discourses p. 29 30 31. 7. Two short Discourses against the Romanists by Mr. Dowell XXI Of St. PETER and the POPE 1. A Sermon Preach'd upon S. Peter's Day 2. The Catholic Balance 3. A Discourse of the Pope's Supremacy in two Parts To which we may add a Tract since Printed with this Title 4. Pope Gregory the Great his Opinion of the Supremacy of the Bishop of Rome taken from his own Writings See other Discourses above p. 32 33 34. XXII Of the REFORMATION 1. Two Discourses concerning the Necessity of the Reformation 2. An Answer to the Spirit of Martin Luther and the Original of the Reformation 3. Reflections on the Relation of the English Reformation Printed at Oxford See other Discourses above p. 35 36. XXIII Of SCHISM and HERESIE 1. A Vindication of the Church of England from the foul Aspersions of Schism and Heresie 2 Parts 2. An Apologetical Vindication of the Church of England c. See other Discourses above p. 35 36. XXIV Of the CELIBACY of the CLERGY 1. A Discourse of the Celibacy of the Clergy 2. An Answer to a Discourse concerning the Celibacy of the Clergy Printed at Oxford SECT XII And now after so full an Account of these Discourses and of the several Controversies that have been handled in them I have only remaining for the Close of all to give a short Account of that Excellent Undertaking in which our Divines are at this time engaged and which being finished I do not see what more can be desired in order to our full Satisfaction in this Matter I Have before recounted how by a joint Labour they run through the Consideration of the pretended Notes of the Church on which the Romanists establish their usurped Authority No sooner were those ended but they presently resolved upon another and a more useful Project which was to search into our Adversaries Books and collect all those Passages of Scripture which are usually alledged by them to maintain their Errors And by giving the true Explication of them at once to secure their Flock from their false Glosses and let them into a better understanding of those Sacred Books In this Undertaking they have already made a considerable Advance as will appear by the following Catalogue 1. POPERY not founded on SCRIPTURE Or The Texts which Papists cite out of the Bible for the Proof of the Points of THEIR RELIGION examined and shewed to be alledged without Ground After which follow the Texts themselves which they bring for 2. The Obscurity of the Holy Scriptures 3. The Insufficiency of Scripture and the Necessity of Tradition 4. The Supremacy of St. Peter and of the Pope over the whole Church in Two Parts 5. Their Doctrine of Infallibility 6. The Worship of Angels and Saints departed In Two Parts 7. The Worship of Images and Reliques 8. The Seven Sacraments and the Efficacy of them In Two Parts 9. The Sacrifice of the Mass Two Parts 10. Transubstantiation 11. Auricular Confession 12. Satisfactions Two Parts May they go on with Success to finish this Good Work whilst we for whose sake they take all these pains encourage their Endeavours by a firm adherence both to them and to their Doctrine and by our constant contending for the Faith we have received from them declare to all the World that their Labour has not been in Vain in the Lord. FINIS A Postscript of N. N. to Mr. John Sergeant occasion'd by his Letter to the Continuator of the Present State of the Controversie Mr. Sergeant Having perused your Letter to the Continuator of the Present State of our Controversie I perceive that you are mightily concern'd at the Historical Discourse concerning Tradition which he mentioned to be wirting and that you Letter to the Continuator c. p. 13. would gladly find some way to save our Friends this vast labour and excuse them from this Impossible Task of answering you I quickly apprehended your meaning that you had a great desire not to be answered and therefore in pure Complaisance to you the first time I met with the Author of the Historical Discourse I desired him in yours and my own Name that he would excuse himself the writing of that Book and told him That I understood by your Letter that you would take it extreamly kindly at his hands if he would not give himself the trouble of answering you But this Courship would do no good upon him so that I was forc'd to alter my strain and began to thereaten him Sir said I if you dare to answer Mr. Sergeant he will be reveng'd of you for he has a plaguy sharp Pen and will not spare you All the answer I had to my Threats was
Imprimatur Liber cui Titulus A Continuation of the Present State of the Controversie between the Church of England and the Church of Rome Junii 7. 1688. H. Maurice RR. in Christo P. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. a Sacr. A CONTINUATION OF THE Present State OF THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE CHURCH of ENGLAND AND THE CHURCH OF ROME BEING A Full ACCOUNT of the BOOKS that have been of late Written on Both Sides The Second Edition LONDON Printed for Ric. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCLXXXVIII TO THE VERY REVEREND and WORTHY THE AUTHORS OF THE DISCOURSES here Collected IN Defence of the Church of ENGLAND GENTLEMEN AFter so much Pains as you have taken and so much Good as by the Blessing of God on your Endeavours you have done to that Church of which I esteem it my happiness that I am a Member may it be permitted to a private and obscure hand to return you this small Tribute in acknowledgment of that Sense which not my self alone but I dare say every single person of our Communion has of what we all owe to your Learning and your Integrity I present you here with a short view of your own Labours or rather I offer to the World a small Collection of those Discourses you have written in Defence of our Religion And how unsuitable soever it may appear to usher a few Titles of Books into the World under the protection of so many great Names yet I am confident the Consequence of this Undertaking cannot but be as Honourable to you all as I heartily wish it may and as I am sure it ought to be When it shall be consider'd how vast a Number and of what acurate and learned Discourses is here comprised and for almost all which we are in the compass of about Three Years indebted to you It is indeed a matter of just wonder to all those who are acquainted with your method of living here how persons engaged not only in a laborious attendance on their Parochial Cures and a constant return of painful and acurate Preaching but almost utterly distracted with that multitude of other Business which in these last Years has taken up the greatest part of your time should yet find leisure to discharge all these and at the same time to adorn the Press with so many Books as might alone have seemed more than enough to have employ'd your whole Industry But blessed be God who has raised you up against such a time as this and given us so great an Earnest of his Favour to us that as we had never more need of Able and Honest and Firm Guides than at this day so I may venture to challenge any Age of the Church to shew such a Number of truly Learned and Pious and constant Pastors as the Church of England and especially this City do's now abound with May your Labours and your Examples always find such a success as they deserve and as they have of late met with amongst us And since we cannot now have any excuse for our Apostacy should we renounce our Holy Prosession after so much as you have done to convince even the most ignorant Persons amongst us of the Truth and Purity of it may we ever firmly adhere both to you and it That when we shall appear before the Great Bishop and Pastor of our Souls we may all of us give up our Accounts with joy This as it is my hearty Wish so I am perswaded it is the sincere Resolution of every one of those whom God has committed to your Care. And that in this Firmness we may be all of us established more and more shall be the continual Prayer of him who in all thankful Duty will ever remain GENTLEMEN Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant TO THE READER AS for those who shall please to peruse this Treatise I have but very little to premise to them They will here see an Exact Collection as far as I was able to make it of the Controversie on both sides between our Divines and those of the Church of Rome And in that the Victory of Truth over Error Never certainly was any Cause more entirely baffled than the Popish is at this time Never was a Controversie more fully handled and that in such a manner as to instruct even the meanest Capacities than This has been in these last years Insomuch that now there is scarce a person amongst us so ignorant that is not able to make a Stand against the rudest Attacques of our Adversaries Nay our very Footmen esteem themselves and I think have satisfied the World that they are not mistaken an equal match for Jesuits i. e. for those who would at least be thought the most able Men of their Party and dropt down from Heaven on purpose to oppose the Growth of Protestant Heresie What others may judg of this I cannot tell But for my part I cannot but from thence conclude That certainly the Hand of God is with us for Good. And that He who has given us this Opportunity to understand the Weaknesses and Deceits of our Enemies and endu'd us with so great and general a Resolution never upon any Account whatsoever to depart from our most Holy Religion will also crown all our future Endeavours with such a Success that the Generations to come shall rise up and call us Blessed When they shall see our Firmness and our Labours in the Lord and receive from our hands that pure and uncorrupted Truth which I am persuaded those excellent Treatises I here mention shall deliver down even to the very End of the World. THE CONTENTS THE Occasion and Design of this Continuation Page 1 The Whole Divided into II. Generals Page 2 FIRST PART Of the Cases against Popery begun in the late King's Time. ib. The Catalogue of them reduced to the following Heads 1. Preliminary Discourses Page 2 3 2. Of the Church Page 4 3. Of the Rule of Faith. Page 5 4. Of Particular Points ib. An Account of the Disputes that have arisen on the Occasion of the Discourse against Transubstantiation Page 8 SECOND PART Of the Discourses that have been publish'd in Defence of the Church of England since the Time of His Present Majesty With an Account of the Popish Treatises that occasioned them Page 9 These reduted to the several following Heads SECT I. Of the REPRESENTING Controversie The Papist Represented and Misrepresented Page 10 The Bishop of Condom's Exposition Page 12 Good Advice to the Pulpits Page 16 And the Disputes occasioned by these Treatises SECT II. Of the pretended Agreement between the Church of England and the Church of Rome Page 17 SECT III. Of the Disputes concerning the Holy EUCHARIST 1. Real Presence Page 19. 2. Communion in One kind Page 20 3. Transubstantiation Page 22 SECT IV. Of the Disputes concerning the CHURCH Page 25 1. Of the Notes of the Church Page 26 2. Of the Unity and Authority of the Church Page 27 3. Of
the Infallibility of the Church Page 29 SECT V. Of the Prerogatives of St. Peter and the Popes as his Successors Page 31 SECT VI. Of the Reformation of the Church of England and the Imputations of Schism and Heresie laid against us on the account of it Page 34 SECT VII Of the Disputes concerning the Rule of Faith And in particular 1. Of the Holy Scripture Page 38 2. Of Tradition Page 39 SECT VIII Of the Disputes concerning the Idolatry of the Church of Rome Page 49 1. In General Page 50 2. In Particular Worship of Images Page 51 Invocation of Saints Page 52 SECT IX Of the Disputes concerning the Validity of Orders In the Church of England Page 54 In the Church of Rome Page 55 That the Papists are upon their own Principles uncertain whether they have any true Priests in their Church ib. SECT X. Of other Particular Points in Dispute betwixt us Popish Treatises Page 56 Discourses of the Church of England Page 57 A full Account of what pass'd on the occasion of the Conference between Dr. Tenison and Father Pulton the Jesuit Page 60 SECT XI In which the several Treatises before mention'd are reduced to their distinct Arguments for the direction of those who would fully satisfie themselves in any Particular Point in Dispute betwixt Vs and those of the Church of Rome viz. Page 63 1. General Discourses Page 65 2. Of Religious Worship Page 66 3. Of Prayer in an Unknown Tongue Page 66 4. Of the Invocation of Saints Page 66 Particularly of the B. Virgin. 5. Of Images and Reliques Page 67 6. Of Idolatry Page 68 7. Of Merits Satisfactions Purgatory and Indulgences Page 68 8. Of the Sacraments Page 68 9. Of Confession and Penance Page 69 10. Of Extreme Unction Page 69 11. Of Orders Page 69 12. Of the Real Presence Page 70 13. Of Transubstantiation Page 70 14. Of the Sacrifice of the Mass Page 71 15. Of the Adoration of the Host Page 71 16. Of Communion in Both Kinds Page 71 17. Of the Rule c. of Faith. Page 72 18. Of the Holy Scripture Page 72 19. Of Tradition Page 73 20. Of the Church Page 73 21. Of St. Peter and the Pope Page 74 22. Of the Reformation Page 74 23. Of Schism and Heresie Page 74 24. Of the Celibacy of the Clergy Page 75. SECT XII In which the whole is closed with an Account of the Present Undertaking to examine the Texts of Scripture alledged in favour of the Popish Errors Page 75 A CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Controversie IT is now some time since it has been very much desired That a Full Account might be given to the World of the several Tracts that have these late Years been publish'd on the Points in Controversie between the Church of England and the Church of Rome The Present State of the Controversie set forth about two years since being become very Imperfect and serving rather to raise Mens expectations of some further Account to be given of this matter than to satisfie their desires with what is there offer'd I will not pretend to have been so diligent an Observer of these Things as not to have let many Discourses slip in such a number as have appear'd on both sides And must therefore humbly entreat the Representer's favour to me if He find some defects in my present Undertaking and that he will not impute that to a spirit of Misrepresentation in me which really proceeds only from my Ignorance or Inadvertency What Discourses have come to my Hands I will faithfully give an account of and if He or any other for Him will put forth an Appendix of what is wanting here it will be much more to the satisfaction of the World than to run over once more The Cases against Popery his Common Place against me as a New and Vpstart sort of Misrepresenter and fancy that the Eyes of all the World are set upon him to chastise me for my Unsincerity The present State of the Controversie gives an Account how the Divines of our Church at the time of the late King's death were engaged in a Design of publishing some Discourses on the several Points in Controversie between Vs and the Papists correspondent to what they had done not long before with reference to our Disputes with our Brethren the Dissenters And how the favourable Reception their former Attempt had met with from these encouraged them to hope their Labours would not be altogether unacceptable to those But the Catalogue of what they have done in pursuance of this design is imperfect and it may not be amiss before I proceed any farther to give a more compleat one here A Full Account of the Cases that have been published on the Points disputed between the Church of England and the Church of Rome I. PRELIMINARY DISCOVRSES 1. A Preservative to an Ingenuous Tryal of Opinions in Religion 2. The difference of the Case between the Separation of Protestants from the Church of Rome and the Separation of Dissenters from the Church of England 3. A Preservative against Popery Being some plain Directions to unlearned Protestants how to dispute with Romish Priests In Two Parts By the Reverend Dr. Sherlock Master of the Temple I place this Discourse here because I do not see to what other Class it could more properly have been reduced thought it is but just now publish'd and perhaps was never design'd by its learned Author to add to the number of this kind of Treatises But that which is more pertinent for me here to observe is That the former part of this Undertaking soon met with such an Answer as is now commonly given to our Books when any at all is given viz. one single Sheet from Father Sabran the Jesuit and who is now well known by his late little Encounters of this Nature It was called 4. An Answer to Dr. Sherlock's Preservative against Popery c. To this an exact and solid Answer was return'd by a Protestant Footman one W. Giles and who may justly be offer'd to the World as an Instance of what use our late Discourses have or might have been for the Instruction even of the meanest Persons in the matters in Controversie between Vs and the Church of Rome The knowledge which this ingenious and diligent Man obtain'd being entirely due to them and yet how considerable it is I shall leave it to any one to judge that will but have the Curiosity to examine his Performance It is called 5. A Defence of Dr. Sherlock's Preservative against Popery in Reply to a Jesuit 's Answer By W. Giles a Protestant Footman living with Madam H. in Mark-lane This Defence and the Preface of the Publisher of it did put the Jesuit quite out of all Patience and Decency and made him forget himself so far as once more to provoke the Reverend Dr. Sherlock by publishing an Answer to both Parts of the Preservative against Popery and to the Footman's Defence of the
it tho the multitude of other Discourses that have since been published on this Subject may well excuse so small an Omission However since after almost a Years attendance there is now but little Hopes of any thing more to be expected from this Antagonist I may venture to promise the Reader that he shall not continue much longer without the Answer that has been prepared to what is already published and which might long since have been finished had not the Reverend Author desired to acquit himself of all his Task at the same time And this may serve in short to have been remarked concerning the first Part of this Design of the Discourses which our Divines began to publish in the late King's time upon the Points in Controversie between us and the Church of Rome We must now pass to a more troubled and perplex'd Undertaking and endeavour to reduce to the clearest Method we can those many Tracts that have since come out in Answer to one another on both sides and the number of which is now so great that it is no easie matter to give an exact Account of them And for the doing of this I shall consider them not in the Order of their coming out but reduce them as near as I can to the several distinct Subjects to which they refer Now the first Thing that began all our Late Disputes was the Pretence so much insisted upon of our MISREPRESENTING the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome And it shall therefore be the first kind of Discourses I will here consider SECT I. Of the Treatises that have been Publish'd on the Representing and Expounding Controversie I. WHAT the Occasion and Design of this Uundertaking was Present State p. 10. has already been remarked in the First Part of the Present State and therefore I shall not need to say any thing to it here The Treatises that have passed on both sides may be consulted in this following Order I. The Representing Controversie A Papist Misrepresented and Represented R. The Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome truly Represented in Answer to a Book intituled A Papist Misrepresented and Represented c. II. Reflections upon the Answer to the Papist Misrepresented c. R. A Papist not Misrepresented by Protestants being a Reply to the Reflections c. III. Papists protesting against Protestant Popery in Answer to a Discourse intituled A Papist not Misrepresented by Protestants R. An Answer to a Discourse intituled Papists protesting against Protestant Popery containing a particular Examination of Monsieur de Meaux 's late B. of Condom 's Exposition of the Doctrines of the Church of Rome in the Articles of the Invocation of Saints and Worship of Images IV. An Amicable Accommodation of the difference between the Representer and the Answerer in return to his last Reply R. An Answer to the Amicable Accommodation of the difference between the Representer and the Answerer V. A Reply to the Answer to the Amicable Accommodation R. A View of the whole Controversie between the Representer and the Answerer with an Answer to the Representer 's last Reply And here the matter rested when the first State of the Controversie was published and it was then generally believed would have done so But the Representer had by this time got too much assurance to be easily put out of Countenance and tho by the longer time he took in his Answer to this last Treatise than to either of the foregoing and which his Performance sufficiently shews was not for any extraordinary pains he resolved to take in his Reply to it he seems to have struggled a little with himself before he could get the better of his Conscience in going on at so pitiful a rate of Vindicating his pretences yet at last there came out something that was to be called an Answer to our last piece in a Preface to a further Continuation of his unjust Pretences against us viz. VI. The Papist Misrepresented and Represented 3d part with a Preface containing Reflections upon two Treatises the one the State the other The View of the Controversie between the Representer and the Answerer But to this too the worthy Author of the View of the Controversie soon returned such an Answer as I find has not a little discomposed the Representer and I believe no less troubles the Vindicator too of the Bishop of Condom's Exposition viz. R. An Answer to the Representer's Reflections upon the State and View of the Controversie c. To this the Representer has now satisfied us that he never intends to reply for having lately set out an Answer to another Discourse of which we shall speak hereafter viz. The Apology for the Pulpits he adds triumphantly in the Title that it is not only an Answer to that Discourse but also A Vindication of the Representer against the Stater of the Controversie But such a Vindication as this could certainly never have come from any other Pen but the Representer's and is by the same figure a Reply to this Treatise by which he heretofore told us that his Papist Represented and Misrepresented was enough to answer not only all our late Discourses against Popery Papist Misr part 3. Pref. but a great part of all the Books and Sermons that had ever been writ or preached against them The truth is I can hardly forbear here to leave a while my design of pursuing the Treatises that have been Published on this Controversie to expose the Confidence of this vain Man But since the worthy Author of that Book which he pretends to answer has thought fit to give him up as a Priviledged Person who is past either sense of Modesty or hopes of being reclaimed I shall pay that deference to his Judgment as not to trouble my self with any Vindication of his Discourse against so trivial and occasional an attempt against it But if there be any of this Author's Communion who shall think fit in good earnest to attack this or any other of those Discourses which he has published against them I will then take the liberty to promise That tho to our great regret the incomparable Author of them be now in his Grave Dr. Claget and no longer in a state to vindicate his own Works yet neither his Labours nor his Memory shall want a Defence and let his Adversaries whenever they please begin the experiment And here I suppose we may now take a final leave of this first Controversie The Papist Represented and Misrepresented I will only add That since this first attempt of his began he has carry'd it on in two other parts under the Title of the catholick Representer The second of which coming out weekly in several Chapters has received a very full and I suppose a satisfactory Answer there being no care taken to reply to what our Divines have with great care and learning return'd to it The third has been consider'd as far as was thought necessary by the
our Language Accordingly we find it to have been publish'd some time since under the Title of A Treatise of Communion under One Kind Now however it might have been sufficient for us to have follow'd their Example in translating that most accurate Answer of the late Monsieur Larrogue to it yet one of our Divines was content to give it a new Consideration in an excellent Book called A Discourse of the Communion in One Kind In Answer to a Treatise of the Bishop of Meaux of Communion c. And here this Flourish ended The Translator whoever he was of the Bishop's Treatise looking upon himself to be no more obliged to defend it against his English Adversary than the Bishop thought himself to be to vindicate it against the Attack of his French Antagonists But tho this Controversie proceeded no farther yet the Subject has been lately again revived by a very Learned Hand who having searched throughly into Antiquity as to this Point has given us an accurate Collection called A Demonstration that the Church of Rome and her Councils have erred by shewing that the Councils of Constance Basil and Trent have in all their Decrees touching Communion in one Kind contradicted the received Doctrine of the Church of Christ III. Of Transubstantiation Of TRANSUBSTANTIATION And now having cleared the way of all other Debates touching this Holy Sacrament we are at last arrived to the great Point in dispute betwixt us the Doctrine of Transubstantiation But how to dispose of my self in so copious a Subject and upon which so many Books have been written is hard to resolve I have already remarked what has passed on the occasion of the Discourse of Transubstantiation the first that began this Debate The next that gave occasion to the revival of this Controversie was the Author of the Dublin Letter who being answered by the Representer in his Second Part cap. 3. a learned man of our Communion made good his Party in an excellent Discourse which he calls Transubstantiation no Doctrine of the Primitive Fathers being a Defence of the Dublin Letter c. And that no pretence to Antiquity might remain unconsidered as to this matter the same Learned Hand has since obliged us with a full view of all that can reasonably be desired from the Primitive Fathers as to this matter viz. A Full Vew of the Doctrines and Practices of the Ancient Church relating to the Eucharist wholly different from those of the present Roman Church and inconsistent with the belief of Transubstantiation c. 2. A 2d sort of Discourses there have pass'd on this Argument in which our Adversaries of the Roman Communion have made it their business to prove the Doctrine of the Trinity to be as full of Contradictions as that of Transubstantiatiom But whether this be more likely to make us Papists or Socinians to believe the Doctrine of Transubstantiation or to disbelieve that of the Trinity I shall not determine However our Divines have resolved to shew that there is no manner of reason for them to do either and the Tracts that have been published on this Occasion are especially these On the Popish Part. A Dialogue between a New Catholic Convert and a Protestant concerning the Doctrines of the Trinity and Transubstantiation On Our Part. 1. An Answer to a late Dialogue between a new Catholic Convert and a Protestant c. 2. A Second Dialogue between a New Catholic Convert and a Protestant shewing why He cannot believe the Doctrine of Transubstantiation tho' he do firmly believe the Doctrine of the Trinity 3. The Doctrine of the Trinity and Transubstantiation compared as to Scripture Reason and Tradition In a new Dialogue between a Protestant and a Papist In 2. Parts 4. Transubstantiation contrary to Scripture or the Protestant's Answer to the Seeker's Request 3. Other Discourses there have been in great numbers on both sides as to this Point and it shall suffice only to transcribe the Names of them Popish Tracts concerning Transubstantiation 1. A Seeker's Request to Catholic Priests and Protestant Ministers for satisfying his Conscience in the Truth of what he ought to believe of the Lords-Supper 2. The Catholic Answer to the Seeker's Request 3. The Catholic Letter to the Seeker Protestant Treatises against Transubstantiation 1. A Plain Representation of Transubstantiation as it is received in the Church of Rome 2. The Absolute Impossibility of Transubstantiation demonstrated 3. An Historical Treatise of Transubstantiation 4. A Paraphrase with Notes and a Preface upon the 6th Chapter of St. John. 5. A Brief Discourse of the Real Presence 6. The School of the Eucharist 7. Six Conferences concerning Transubstantiation 8. The Protestant's Answer to the Seeker's Request 9. The Protestant's Answer to the Catholic Letter to the Seeker Or A Vindication of the Protestant's Answer to the Seeker's Request To which we may add two Books written indeed long since by two eminent Bishops of this Church but thought fit to be Reprinted again since Mr. W's attempts from Oxford about the Real Presence The First is 10. A Brief Declarationn of the Lord's Supper written by Dr. Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London during his Imprisonment With some Determinations and Disputations concerning the same Argument by the same Author 11. Diallacticon Viri Boni Literati c. I mention this Book Of the Notes of the Church tho a Latin one because it is a very excellent Discourse written by Dr. John Poynet Bishop of Winchester in Edward VI's days and was very rarely to be met with till this Reprinting of it SECT VI. Another Subject which has open'd a large field to Disputes between us and has accordingly been frequently insisted upon is the CHURCH with reference to the Marks and Nature and Prerogatives of it I. Of the NOTES of the Church HE must be very little acquainted with the late Methods made use of by those of the Church of Rome in propagating their Religion among us who knows not this to have been all along their great Endeavour to fly as much as possible all particular Disputes and keep themselves within the general Notions of the Church That so applying whatever is or is pretended to have been said of the Church Catholic to their own particular Communion they might more easily deceive unwary and ignorant Men. But in this too as well as in all other Points in debate they have not fail'd to meet enough to encounter their Pretences And to the End it might be better seen how vain a Pretence it is in them to call themselves Catholics and their Church the Catholic Church as if in the words of the Prophet they were alone Isa xlv 6. and there were none besides them One of the first Controversies to be remark'd in this Point is that of the NOTES of the CHVRCH and upon which they undertake to shew theirs exclusive to all others to be the Catholic Church of Christ Militant upon Earth The former part of the State
of Nubes Testium To which our Author has replied in 4. A Third Letter to a Person of Quality being a Vindication of the former in Answer to a late Pamphlet Intituled A Discourse of the Vse of Images And to that in pursuance of his First Design has lately added a Fourth which he calls 5. A Fourth Letter to a Person of Quality being an Historical Account of the Doctrine of the Sacrament from the Primitive times to the Council of Trent shewing the Novelty of Transubstantiation To conclude this Head I shall only add one General Discourse on this Subject which I have before mention'd and can never name too often viz. Of the Authority of Councils and the RULE of FAITH SECT VIII Of the Nature of Idolatry Having hitherto pursu'd the business of the Rule of Faith and the Treatises that have been publish'd on the Occasion of it we will now go on to the more special Examinations that have been made by both these Rules viz. Scripture and Tradition of the particular Points in debate betwixt us And because I have just now mention'd some such Examinations of the two great Rocks of offence to us The Worship of Images and the Invocation of Saints it may not be amiss first of all to see what has been further done upon these Arguments and the other instances of what we esteem The IDOLATRY of the Church of Rome THere is perhaps nothing in all our Disputes with those of the other Communion which they so unwillingly care to enter on as this They look upon the very Name of it to be a kind of Reproach to them and would be thought as heartily as we our selves can desire to detest the Guilt of it But yet 't is too evident to be deny'd that our Charge is very justly brought against them and by consequence that it ought not to be doubted but that our Separation from them must have been most reasonable if it can indeed be made appear as we are perswaded we have plainly shewn that we could not have continued in their Communion without joyning with them in the Practice of one of the greatest of Sins viz. Idolatry But before we come to the Particulars in which this Charge is brought against them it is fit we should first state the general Notion of IDOLATRY and this has been effectually done but very lately The Reverend the Bishop of Oxon having in a Treatise which he published for the abrogating of the Test and Penal Laws given us just occasion to do so This Book is so well known and the Answer to it was so lately published that I shall not need say any thing more of either but only add their Titles which are these viz. 1. Reasons for Abrogating the Test 2. A Discourse concerning the Nature of Idolatry In which a late Author's true and only notion of Idolatry is consider'd and Confuted I must not forget to observe also that the Bishop in his Tract pretending to give a new and very strange Account of the Romish Doctrine of Transubstantiation that part of his Book received two particular Considerations the one in the Preface to the Reverend Dean of Paul's Book Entituled The Council of Trent examined and disproved by Catholic Tradition The other in a Learned Discourse under this Title 3. Transubstantiation the Peculiar Doctrine of the Church of Rome I am told we owe this Book to a very ingenious Nonconformist and as we cannot but thank him for the Discourse he has given us so he deserves to be thanked for his design of answering the other part of the Bishop's Book about the Nature of Idolatry in which he was prevented as I am told by the other Discourse about the Nature of Idolatry coming out while that good design was under his hands I cannot but wish that our Brethren had begun sooner to assist us in such a large Controversie as we have been obliged to manage and that others amongst them would follow the Example which this Learned Author has so worthily set before them Another Writer hath given us a very ingenious short Answer to both parts of the Bishop's Book and calls it 4. A Discourse concerning Transubstantiation and Idolatry being an Answer to the Bishop of Oxford's Plea relating to those two Points As for the particular Instances wherein we make good this charge of Idolatry against them I have before mentioned that of the ADORATION of the HOST See above Page 6. 19. and the Discourses that have been published on that Argument The two Points remaining and of which something was said under the last Head are the WORSHIP of IMAGES and the INVOCATION of Saints I. Of the WORSHIP of IMAGES Upon which Point Of the Worship of Images besides the two Letters written in Answer to the Nubes Testium the following Discourses have also been set forth viz. 1. The Fallibility of the Roman Church demonstrated from the manifest Error of the second Nicene and Trent Councils which assert That the Veneration and Honorary Worship of Images is a Tradition Primitive and Apostolical 2. A Discourse concerning the second Council of Nice which first introduced and established Image-Worship in the Christian Church Anno Domini 787. For the other Point II. The INVOCATION of SAINTS Many Discourses have been Published and a full account given of this Matter and if we may judge by the slender Returns that have been made to them Of the Invocation of Saints little is to be said in Vindication of this Superstition The Treatises that I have seen are these that follow 1. Speculum B. Virginis A Discourse of the due Praise and Honour of the Virgin Mary 2. A Discourse concerning the Worship of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints with an Account of the Beginning and Rise of it among Christians in Answer to Monsieur de Meaux 's Appeal to the ivth Age in his Exposition and Pastoral Letter 3. Wholesom Advices from the B. Virgin to her indiscreet Worshippers This Piece was only a Translation which an Ingenious Lay-man of our Church put into English and set a large Preface before it To this the Catholic Representer gave an Attack in the 4th Chapter of his Second Part and thereby obliged our Author to make a smart Reply upon him called A Letter to the Misrepresenter of Papists 4. An Account of the Life and Death of the B. Virgin according to the Romish Writers with the Grounds of the Worship paid to her 5. The Life of S. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi a Carmelite Nun with a Preface of the Nature Causes Concomitants and Consequences of Extasie and Rapture and a brief Discourse added about discerning and trying Spirits whether they be of God. 6. An Abridgment of the Prerogatives of S. Ann Mother of the Mother of God. 7. The Enthusiasm of the Church of Rome demonstrated in some Observations upon the Life of Ignatius Loyola 8. The Virgin Mary Misrepresented by the Roman Church c. Part I. Wherein Two of her