Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A28581
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A brief account of the first rise of the name Protestant and what Protestantism is ... / by a professed enemy to persecution.
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Bold, S. (Samuel), 1649-1737.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing B3477; ESTC R16825
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36,552
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49
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST RISE OF THE Name Protestant And what Protestantism is with a Justification of it and an earnest Exhortation to all Protestants to persist in that Holy Religion By a Professed Enemy to Persecution LORD BISHOP of CORK'S Protestant Peace-Maker Pag. 128. I am and must be in the mind that the Strength of the Protestant Cause both here at Home and throughout Christendom lyes in the Vnion of Protestants and the Glory Purity and Power of Christianity in the World stands or falls with PROTESTANTISM LONDON Printed in the Year 1688. THE EPISTLE TO THE Protestant Reader THE following Papers were for the most part of them writ two Years since and had then been offered to your view if they had not been obstructed by some Persons and for some Considerations of no use to be here mentioned The Author conceived at that time there was occasion to suspect that many who pretended to be Protestants closed with that Profession out of Interest or something a-kin to that rather than from Knowledge and Conscience Many appeared ignorant of the occasion of the Protestant Name and to understand no better what was Protestantism it self These seemed to be so wavering and uneasie under their present Circumstances that little less was necessary to reconcile them to the Roman Religion than to be certainly secured from the terrible effects of Humane Statutes provided to deter Men from such Reconciliation This prompted the Author having some undesired vacation at that time from his usual Imploy to endeavour to contribute something towards the helping of such who were thus unsteady to discern what it was they were about to relinquish and consequently enquire what it is on the other side they must espouse People in matters of Religion ought to be considerate and wary they should not deal with Religion as they do with their Hats and Cloaths when out of the fashion He thinks that Gibbets aad Confiscations and such Engines are no Gospel Appointments to befriend the True Faith. Yea he is of opinion that the Ambition and Sloth of Church-Officers did first introduce Penal Laws to defend and guard Christianity and force People into a Profession of the Truth And that Christianity made greater numbers of real Proselites during Constantine's general Toleration than were made by the Penal Laws under that Emperour's Government or by all the Penal Laws that ever were made since that time He thinks that Penal Laws have not wholly rendred Christianity ineffectual but how much they have impeded its progress he thinks is very hard to comprehend They have certainly very much promoted Hypocrisy and Formality The Author is indeed a Conformist but one that was grieved at the indiscreet and less charitable censures and carriages of many who boasted of the same character He was really troubled to see them who said they were Protestants behave themselves so unbeseemingly towards their fellow Protestants and so industriously weaken and undermine that very Church they made such a clamour about He does not impute what they did intirely to spleen and malice against the Church they pretended to As for many of them he apprehends their Intellectuals were so impotent they had few thoughts of their own by which to govern themselves but were wholly under a forreign conduct which yet they perceived not How many more were influenced by motions too mean and carnal for any good Man voluntarily to resign himself unto For the first sort we may pray as our Saviour did for his Crucifiers Lord forgive them for they knew not what they did But as for the other sort he leaves others to consider what measure of Charity belongs to them who furiously ruine their Religious Neighbours and pull down the Church they seem to own meerly to satisfie their own filthy and most detestable Lusts He manifested some resentment that Protestantism should be treated with so much harshness by those who pretended to the same Religion Which occasioned his having some experience not only of the reproachful language but the ruder effects of the misguided vehemence of some of his own Communion But these things he overlooks and hopes that others whose treatment hath not been very obliging will so forget what is past as not to insist thereon to the prejudice und dammage of the Religion in common amongst us The Prefacer concurring in all these matters with the Author thinks he may with greater confidence apply to all sorts of Protestants in intreating and beseeching them that they will not do any thing now against but for the Truth And more particularly I would desire 1. Those who are indifferent and wavering to consider and think seriously before they change Some it may be would make no scruple to depart from the Protestant Profession were it not they were awed with the dread and terrour of some future danger in this World that may possibly overtake them should they under present Circumstances resign up themselves to a Profession our Laws have made Criminal But true Religion is a matter quite distinct from Humane Laws it is of most necessary and important concern to Men's Souls and their Eternal Salvation And Humane Laws whether for or against it do not alter the Case And therefore both as Christians and as Men you ought to consider and weigh things Where different Religions are propos'd you must examine the Particulars on each side by the Only Rule of Religion and must govern your selves by Evidence The nature and importance of Religion and the unvaluable worth of your own Souls require this There is nothing so foolish and absurd as to be of a Religion you do not understand or to change your Profession you know not why nor wherefore Would you alter to obtain Preferments and Honours Alas how littlt reason have you to expect these things whil'st there are others of more desert and who bring better Testimonials with them than you can For he that changes inconsiderately gives no proof either of his Parts or of his Integrity Do you hope by altering your Religion to escape Troubles and Sufferings This is an ill course to be taken for such a purpose and not likely to succeed because God can find you out and has ways enough to punish you Besides you are assured you shall not be forced to relinquish the Profession or Exercise of your Religion by a Royal Promise A Promise which fully performed will attract greater repute and glory to the Roman Religion than all the Arguments and Devices the most learned and subtil Adherers to that See did ever invent So that you have nothing under which you may shelter your Apostacy nothing to patronize your Revolt And to Apostatise without a Temptation is at once both a Folly and Wickedness that nothing can match on either account 2. Those who pretending to the Church of England have by an extravigant fervency and unneighbourly earnestness done all that was in their power to impoverish macerate and render their follow Protestants uneasie