in opposition to this you say Sir That it is a proof that Dr. Stillingfleet ' s Principles are not destructive to the Authority of the Church of England because the Presbyterians Anabaptists or Independents those enemies of hers who have been so vigilant and industrious so many years to make her totter have not made use of the said Principles nor so much as taken notice of them Hereto I answer They have not made use of them against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England because they are not Fools For though they may seem to have a great advantage against him by saying besides their acknowledgement of the evidence of Scripture in necessaries That it would be madness in them to leave God's Spirit their own infallible Interpreter of Scripture in other points also for his fallible common Reason which is not able to give assurance even in natural things as whether the Earth move or stand still by which means they being now Spiritual Christians would become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animal Men. And moreover that they interpreting Scripture by the Spirit may force men to submit their judgments to them Whereas it would be ridiculous to submit to a Church which allows every one to judge of the sence of Scripture by their corrupt private reason These sure are notable Advantages on a Spiritual Churches side Yet on the other side they foresee that by such opposition they shall sadly expose thâ—mselves to his deriding Rhetorick For his Reason will make their Spirit miserably ridiculous He will bid them to make proof to him that they interpret Scripture by the Spirit and to shew when and which way the Spirit left English Proâ—estants to agitate them and also by what marks they know that all of their own faction have the Spirit and they alone though other Sects dissenting and oppâ—sing them do ground their opposiâ—ion on the same Spirit Now it being impossible for any of them by the hâ—lp of their Spirit to answer a word of sâ—nce to his Reason they will lamentably remain at his mercy Therefore they will not meddle with him And moreover they foresee that the Church â—f England will not account her self touch'd in this Dispute For she will renounce both private Reason and private Spirit and tell them that they must receive the sence of Scripture from her Therefore very wiseâ—y they will pursue their old way against her and tell her that she has received her Authirity from Idolaters yea from the Pope whom her own Bishops call Antichrist And God forbid that they should submit to such an Authority And for her Excommunications they account them no better than bruta fulmina on condition that their Purses may not be touched 83. Having therefore in my own perswasion invincible Reasons to make this judgment of Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England and moreover not having ever heard and being confident that I never shall hear that any one English Bishop did or will so far betray themselves as to allow the grounds on which Mr. Chillingworth and after him the Doctor proceeded can you Sir think it just to render me the Object of the general hatred of English Protestants by transferring as you have done on the Church of England all the sharp and scornful Invectives which I have made against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church It is not I assure you the Church of England that I taxed for want of Miracles which are not indeed at all necessary in case she be as she professes a true Member of the Catholick Church But it is Dr. Stillingfleet's Church from which Miracles are to be required since it is a new-fashioned Church the like whereof was never seen before the last Age. And it is only Dr. Stillingfleet's Church to which I upbraided the exâ—â—usion of a Religious Prâ—fession which was nevâ—r condemned by the Church of England And the like I affirm with regard to all other pâ—ssages in my Book which have raisâ—d such indignation in you against me Which indignation I hopâ— you will have the goodness to qualifie when you shall read this my Defence to which I add also once more that if there be any phrase in any Book written by me whicâ— may probably be esteemed a reproachful reviling of the Church or Clergy of England I do here revoke and ask pardon for it ¶ 7. Câ—ncerning my Lord Falkland and detraction from his memory imputed to me 84. I Will here in the next place in regard of the affinity of the Subject annex that special Head among your manifold Accusations against me which concern thâ— Vindication of the Honour and Esteem of my Noble dear Lord Falkland aspersed say you most ungratefully and falsly by me with the Character of a Socinian Truly Sir it was not without some contentment to me to see any one interesting himself in clearing the Reputation of that Noble Person the greatest Ornament to our Nâ—tion that the last Age produced and which certainly could never with justice be blasted by any English Pen or Tongue 85. I was I confess extreamly astonished to find my self called to the Bar upon that account and to see that the ground of my Inditement should be a double Narration in my Answer to Doctor Stillingâ—leet hoâ— I presented D'aille his Book du vray usage des Peres to my Lord Falkland â— which he gave to Mr. â—hillingworth and shortly after sent to me being then in Ireland a Letter of Thanks especially in Mr. Chillingworth's behalf because the said Book had saved him a tedious labour of reading most of the Greek and Latine Fathers to whose Doctrines he had engaged himself to conform his belief And further in pursuance of my Narration I added how Mr. Chillingwâ—rth thanks to D'aille being now become a Protestant and having an intention to defend Dr. Potter against his Adversary F. Knâ—tt was induced by occasion of a Socinian's Book which he had met withal to proceed in the Controversie against Cathâ—licks upon far different grounds from those which had been made use of by former learned Protestant Bishops and Doctors For in stead of appealing to Antiquity Councils or Fathers for the sence of Scripture he resolved to appeal to the Scripture alone and this interpreted by each one 's own Reason and Judgment since in all necessary Points it is so plain as he pretends that none can mistake the sence of it or be obliged to submit his Reason to any external Authority interpreting it and Errour in places difficult will easily find pardon 86. This is the sence of the double Narrative on which you ground your Accusation you are willing also to question the truth of the Narration and to make me pass for a wicked person guilty of forgery All I can say hereto is to protest here in the presence of God that I have not willingly failed in any one material circumstance of this short story and since I am sure that it is true it exceeds the bounds of Omnipâ—tence to cause that which
has been not to have been Only as to the determining the precise year I dare not engage my credit upon an ill memory 87. Now Sir by what Logick do you from this Narration infer that I aspersed my Lord Falkland with the Character of a Socinian since he is not so much as â—â—med in the second Narrative whâ—râ— the word Socinian is found Truly I proâ—â—â—â— on my Conscience I was so far from that that I had not a thought of imputing Socinianism to Mr. Chillingworth himself neitâ—â—r had I any just ground from what I there related 88. For Mr. Chillingworth having been disheartened by D'aile from appealing to the Holy Fathers of the Church and being too ingenuous or rather out of fear of God not daring to pretend to Divine Ilâ—uminations against his Conscience and which he could not justifie gladly made use of the grounds which he found first in a Socinian's Book who in stead of a private Divine Spirit substituted common Reason as the only proper Iudge of the sence of Scripture And upon these grounds prâ—cisely has he proceeded through his whole Book But Sir is this sufficient to make poor Mr. Chillingworth pass for a very Socinian Doâ—s the making private Reâ—son â—udge of the true sence of Scripture inâ—â—râ— that neither Christ nor the Holy Ghâ—â—t are God that the pains of Hell are not eternal thaâ— separated Souls have no being or at least no perception c. God â—orbid for tâ—en how many innocent persons would be guilty of Blasphemies unawares to themselves Then not only Mr. Chillingworth but Dr. Stillingfleet and besides them God knows how many more in London and in the Vniversities of England would be Socinians 89. But as touching my Lord Falkland I was so far from entertaining a suspicion and much more from propagating that suspicion to others that I believe there are in England scarce three persons besides my self that are so enabled to give a Demonstration of the contrary which was a solemn protestation made by himself to the greatest Prelate of England of his aversion from those blasphemous â—loâ—â—sies which had been most unjustly by I know not whom laid to his charge It could not possibly therefore be that my having found crâ—dit with two or three pâ—rsons of the Church of England should have induced them to asperse his Lordship with so foul a stain But upon whose credit soever they framed such a scandal so nice a Lover of Veracity and Sincerity that most excellent Lord was that his serious renouncing of such an imputation ought to be esteemed by all Persons of Honour or Honesty a more than sufficient eviction of his innocence And now though I could not without much inward trouble read my self published a Calumniator of the Noblest Friend and Benefactor that ever I enjoyed yet having an inward witness of mine own innocence and an assurance also that no proofs could be made to appear suffâ—cient to justifie such an imputation I took no small pleasure in seeing your most generous Zeal in vindicating his Honour 90. I beseech you therefore Honoured Sir let me no longer remain in your thoughts as a Detractor of that Nâ—ble Lord who I perceive was in a particular manner dear to â—â—ur self also and whose Memory ought to bâ— pretious to every one who has any estâ—em of Vertue Heroical Fidelity to His Master and King incomparable Learning and all admirable Endowments I assure you I was so far from the least intention to blâ—â— his Memory that I should judge my self justly liable to be condemned as defective in the Dutiâ—s of Friendship and Respâ—ct to so Noble a Friend if in case God had ever placed me in a condition capable of doing any considerable good to others I had contented my self with expressing my affâ—ction to him by a few elegant Phrases and windy Elogies having means and opportunity to raise his Family out of that narrow condition in which that most Noble Lord who had been no skilful Projector of profit to himsâ—lf had left it 91. But having been incapable of this I yet thank God that the poor and contemptible condition in which I am doâ—s not hinder me from being in a capacity of shewing my Gratitude in a way I hope for more advantageous to that admirable Person himself than by â—â—â—ry Commendations For though you Sir condemn as uncharitable that Position oâ— Catholicks That no Salvation is tâ— be had out of the Communion of the Catholick Church Yet since all Catholicks grant that this is not necessarily to be understood of an Actual External Communion but that many Christians of vertuous devout Lives and having had a constant preparation of mind to prefer Truth whensoever effectually discovered to them before all Temporal Advantages they dying in this disposition though not externally joined to the Church will be esteemed by our merciful Lord as true Members of his Mystical Body the Church And since it is most certain that all the Alms Prayers and Sacrifices offer'd to God by and in the Vniversal Church are intended by her to be beneficial to all Souls departed as far as they are capable and according as God shall apply them And lastly since I am assur'd that my Lord Falkland lâ—â—ding a vertuous Life despised all worâ—â—ly things in comparison of necessary Divine Truth â— and iâ— being apparent by his Discourse of Infallibility that he had framed a judgment touching the Catholick Church out of certain Catholick Writers who â—epresented it too disadvantageously to him and not with such Qualifications as the Church her self has done Upon these Considerations who can forbid me to desire and even hope that his Soul though not by name recommended may receive benefit and comfort when at the Altar and elsewhere all Catholicks join in praying thus Omnium fidelium defunctorum animae per misericordiam Dei requiesâ—ant in Pace Amen ¶ 8. Concerning King Hâ—nry the Eighth 92. ANother Crime â— it seems of no ordinary heinousness was my stiling King Henry the Eighth a Tyrant for with this I am charged once and again You cannot Sir I am sure believe that I used that word in the same notion 〈…〉 do whâ—n â—hey call Crâ—mwel a Tyrant which imports a Merciless Vsurper Truly I meant no more thereby than what generally Protestant Historiographers and others write of him that he was an unjust and Merciless King I am sure Sir Walâ—er â—aâ—leigh in the Preface to his 〈…〉 Henry was Father of his own most Grâ—cious anâ— Munificent Mistress yet is bold to say That if all the Pictures and Paâ—terns of a Merciless Prince were 〈◊〉 in the World they might all again be 〈…〉 the life out of that King's Sâ—ory 〈…〉 of my â—eâ—â—ioning King Henry 〈…〉 epistle to the English Car 〈…〉 was his cruâ—l dealing 〈…〉 retired devout Predecâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈…〉 whom he caused to be executed as Traytors meerly because they durâ—t not simply upon his will without any previous instruction debate or consultation with his Clergy
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
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
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
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
seen how far the Catholick Clergies Iurisdiction reaches and how little jealousie it gives to other great Kings exceedingly tender of their Royal Authority And in case I were condemned I should say within my self The Iudge who has according to the Laws condemned me for a supposed Crime called of late Treason in England and no where else in the World being forced to pronounce the sentence of Death against me upon the verdict of a dozen silly ignorant Mechanicks or Peasants yet I verily believe he knows or might know very well that the same sentence was as justly that is very unjustly pronounced by Nero Domitian Dioclecian c. Roman Emperours against the Apostles and their Successours S. Ignatius S. Policarp S. Cyprian c. For all these and hundreds more such assumed and exercised a far greater Spiritual Iurisdiction in their judgment doubtless without any wrong to Princes For they administred Sacraments congregated Churches prâ—ached and converted yea empower'd others to preach and convert thousands to a Religion expresly contrary to and by many Sanguinary Laws condemned in all the Countries where they travelled yet â—e esteems them glorious Martyrs and me an infamous Traytor Deo gratias ¶ 5. Reviling Reproaches of the Church and Clergy of England objected against me 53. ANother heavy Charge against me often repeated with great Indignation by you Noble Sir is as you term it My defying the Laws of the Kingdâ—m traducing the Government treating the Bishopsâ— and the Reverend Clergy and the Christian Religion that is estâ—blished there by Law and all the Profâ—ssors of it with those scoffs and derision and contempt as if they weâ—e Turks and Pagans c. Further by pretending to prâ—ve that the very nature and essence of the English Church it self and its Religion is pure putid Fanaticism In a word I am accused of a constant reviling and malice towards the Church in which I received my Baptism Now the guilt of this crime you extend to all the Books published by me The least faulty in your opinion was my first stiled Exomologesis but that also in a second Edition was enlarged you say with additions â—specially of reproaches against the Church of England and virulent Expressions against the Clergy of that Church 54. Sir I should despair of being able to make any tolerable Apology for my self against this heinous imputation but that I hope you will think it just that I should divide my Plea which regards my last Book against Doctor Stillingfleet from all the rest Now an account of the necessity of making such a Separation and the reasonableness of it I will not long defer 55. First then touching my Exomologesis take whether Impression of it you please excepting one most highly honoured Friend whose Name I must take leave to conceal you are the only person who has condemned me for my acrimony in it yet without selecting any detâ—rminate guilty passage in it I had many other Friends of the Protestant Clergy whose friendship and kindness to me never received the least abatement upon that account on the contrary they comparing my stile with that of several other Catholick Controvertists expressed their satisfaction in my moderation I will only name two very knowing and in a singular manner intimate Friendsâ— the first is Doctor Earles lately Lord Bishop of Salisbury all the tender effects of whose friendshipâ— I may add of his bounty also I enjoyed till God took him away a person certainly of the sweetest most obliging nature that lived in our Aâ—e 56. The second whom I may securely name bâ—cause he is also dead for out of due respect to some worthy Prelates alive I must â—â—me them only in my Prayers is Doctor Hammond To whom I being at Paris caused my Exomologesis as soon as printed to be sent and presented He in a short kind Letter gave me thanks and without the least exception against the stile gave this judgment of it That an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that was his expression did privily run through the whole contexture of the Book He did not further interpret wherein that fallacy confâ—ted But added We are Friends and I do not purpose to be your Antagonist Alas how happy had we been if Catholick Religion since it must be opposed had been combated only by such Antagonists as he was Indâ—ed it would cause not only wonder but indignation in any ingenuous man to see such a person as Doctor Hammond treated with scorn contempt and virulence 57. One clause more there was in Doctor Hammond's Letter which I judge expedient to add partly in gratitude to his memory and also upon occasion of your telling the world that it was not devotion but necessity and a want of subsistence which drove me first out of the Church of England and then into a Monastery He at the end of his Letter kindly invited me into England assuring me I should be provided of a convenient place to dwell in and a sufficient subsistence to live comfortably and withal that not any one should molest me about my Religion and Conscience I had reason to believe that this invitation was an effect of a cordial friendship and I was also informed that he was well enabled to make good his promise as having the disposal of great Charities and being the most zealous Promoter of Alms-giving that lived in England since the Change of Religion Yet rendring such thanks as gratitude required of me I told him that I could not accept of so very kind an offer being engaged almost by vow to leave all pretensions to the world and to embrace poverty for my portion Now besides such a Friend as this I had many more several near His Majesty among whom one especially there was of the highest rank to whom formerly upon the Rebellion in Ireland I being destitute of a present subsistence must acknowledge all gratitude due for by his care alone I was provided of a condition both honourable and comfortable So that if I had lost all other Friends I had reason to assure my self he would have freely contributed rather than extremity of want should have forced me to quit the world Moreover at the same time I received great Testimonies of favour from Her late Gracious Majesty the Queen-Mother of happy memory an indifferent Recommendation from whom to the Court of France could not fail to have procured me a convenient subsistence But truly I never sollicited her or any other for such Liberality True it is that meerly of her own accord she was pleased at my leaving Paris to assign me an hundred Crowns to furnish me in my journey towards a Monastery But this by the way 58. Whereas Sir you affirm that in the second Edition of my Exâ—mologesis there are many Additions especially of reproaches against the Church of England c. And moreover that to a person expostulating with me Why I left out the Protestation of Obedience and a Discourse touching
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
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
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
persons not yet ordained may be seen habited like Priests at the Altar with all prescribed Ceremonies practising the reciting those words and performing those actions and Ceremonies which the by-standers can judge to be no other but the celebrating Mass yet in reality there is no such thing done no consecration at all made nor any thing performed but what may be as well done by any Lay-person of either Sex It is not saying Mass or hearing Confessions therefore that the Law condemns and against which it denounces death but only the receiving Priestly Orders beyond the Seas from an Authority derived from the Church of Rome â— This thing alone in England is declared Treason and by consequence no truly legal Conviction can be wiâ—hout the deposition of Witnesses who can testifie the time place and Bishop when where and from whom the accused Person received Holy Orders 127. Honoured Sir you will have the goodness to pardon so prolix an assertion of the innocence of our Catholick Priests and consequently of all committed to their care since your self obliged me to it having in your Animadversions so oft and largely expressed your opinion that they could not clear themselvâ—s from a just suspicion of Disloyalty to which they are more obnoxious than any Catholicks in other Countries Whereas it is most certain that not any of his Majesties Subjects nor any Catholicks abroad can if by Authority required give more unanswerable prooâ—s of their Fidelity and very few in our Nation â—if any equal Whence it follows that whatsoever we suffer it is purely for our Religion and the Catholick Faith that we suffer ¶ 12. Humble Thanks for good Counsel 128. I will conclude this Apology with humble thanks Noble Sir for the double â—dvice you think fit to give me toward the lâ—â—ter end of your Animadversions and I do also promise conformity to them to the uâ—most of my skill and power The first Advice has reference to my self purely The second to the Cause First therefore you counsel me having once been a Son â—f the Church of England and obliâ—ed tâ— her for my Education c. but nâ—w out of Conscience separated from her external Communion at least to live fairly and civilly towards her and to allâ—w some beauty to have been in the Church whiâ—h detained me so long and much more in writing on controverted Points to abstain from revilings c. 129. Sir Obedience to this Advice is very easie to me who never intended to be guilty of such ingratitude and disingâ—nuous an humour as reviling the Church of England and I extremely wondered when I read it in your Animadversions with such atrocity imputed to me But by the way I beseech you once more not to confound Dr. Stillingfleet's Church with the Church of England estâ—blishâ—d by Law Fâ—r the â—uture though Age and a sharp Infirmiâ—y which summons me to prepare an Account of all my Actions to the Supreme Iudge ought and will suggest to my thoughts meditations of another subject more seasonable than Controversie yet in câ—se God by my Superiours shâ—ll engage me in renewing Disputes for defence of his Catholick Truth and â—hurch I here oblige my self to be so wary in the managing of them that the most jealously tender Protestant shall not have cause to be dissatisfied and the like caution I shall observe if it be possible in sâ—parating the Cause of your Church from that of other Sects who will needs in despight of you invade the Title of Protestants of the Church of England 130. Your second Advice Sir is that I should contract the Controversie into what concerns the Church of England soly that is to what is contained in the Articles and Policy thereof without making sallies against Presbyterians Independents c. 131. Truly nothing is more reasonable than this Advice yet withal nothing more difficult than a conformity thereto because it does not depend on me and therefore I dare not promise obedience thereto The only Book wherein the occasion and argument of it permitted me to oppose the Church of England was my Exomologesis and therein I am sure nothing was treated but what was peculiarly essential to your Church As for other Books wherein I was only a Defender I was at the mercy of my Adversary who if he wandred into Exotick opinions I could not help it I was to be upon my guard as well against transverse as direct blows 132. This were Sir an Advice very fit to have been given to Dr. Stillingfleet and truly it would be very convenient if it would please you to make use even now at last of the Interest and Power you deserve to have with him to counsel him to deal so with the Catholick Church as you would have us to do with the English He has scope sufficient allow'd him for he may attaque not the Council of Trent only but all other Councils both General and Provincial received by Catholicks And in case he think it unreasonable that all the pains taken by himself or his friends in collecting recreative matter for the Consolation of his Parishiâ—ners or of Country Gentlewomen should be lost If he have more stories to make sport withal concerning Saints Classical or Heteroclites as no doubt he may find enough for a Book in folio or if he can furnish the Press with examples of some particular persons guilty of Superstitious usage of Images or of exotick Opinions touching Indulgences Confession Purgatory c. it is pity such costly materials should be cast away Let the World see them in God's Name if he have the Conscience to pretend so but let it not be in a Book of Controversie unless in relating such fopperies he will also as becomes a person who would be esteemed ingenuous declare that the Catholick Church approves not such ridiculous stories or exotick Opinions and that she expresly condemns superstitious practices about Images and sordidly gainful usages of Indulgences Now Sir when English Protestants and particularly Dr. Stillingfleet writing not only in quality of an English Protestant but of the Champion of the Church of England assaults the Catholick Church with such Engins what would you advise Catholick Answerers to do Must we say nothing but what concerns directly the Articles or Constitutions of the Church of England Truly that were the best course which also I purpose if it be possibleâ— to take and withal to neglect whatsoever he pretends to confute as the Doctrines of Catholicks unless they can be shewed to be the Decisions of the Council of Trent or other received Councils To conclude this matter You Honoured Sir profess to acknowledge the Doctour a Legitimate Champion of the English Church and that you are exceedingly delighted with the softness gentleness and civility of his Language Let this I beseech you Sir invite you to read over once more his Book which being done I shall be exceedingly mistaken if being demanded seriously in private by an intimate Friend your Judgment