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A26060 A defence of the country parsons admonition against the exceptions of the plain-man's answer. Assheton, William, 1641-1711. 1687 (1687) Wing A4028; ESTC R219342 4,820 24

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HolyScriptures and do find some place which is too difficult for you do not then pretend to interpret it your selves But beg the Direction of your Spiritual Guide and desire him to shew you how it is to be understood It seems thisGentleman is resolved to shew his skill other-wise this Expedient for a Reason that he knows might have pass'd without his Censure 'T is very surprizing that a Romish Priest who expects such blind obedience to his Dictates should yet be thus offended at this honest Advice Byt the Reason is evident For whilst the good Protestants of England are so kind to Vs and so careful of themselves as to own their Clergy as Blessed be God they do notwithstanding all the Arts of Rome to withdraw them from us I say whist they stick to their Clergy through Gods Blessing they are certainly safe As to the slavery of such submission which this Author suggests with respect to the Church of England 't is an invidious Reflection We do indeed desire you to take our Advice Not for that we have Dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy for by Faith ye stand 2 Cor. 1. 24. Now the Scripture is the only Rule of our Faith and as such to use his own expression we will stand and fall by it Plain-man's Answer p. 4. And therefore as he well reminds you you must search diligently and soberly into it your selves lb. p. 4. Imitate those noble Bereans who received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17. 11. But to what purpose thinks this Author do you read the Scriptures which neither you nor your Clergy can pretend to interpret And why not Cannot the Divines of the Church of England interpret Scripture as well as the Priests of the Church of Rome No saith he because they are not infallible and thus he upbraids us at least ten times in this very Answer But what strange impertinence is this That those men should be thus concern'd for the want of infallibility in others who have so little of it themselves For is there any thing more fallible and contradicting then those vast Volums of Popish Commentators that even make our shelves to crack And yet all these fallible as they are owned and published with the usual Approbations and permissu Superiorum Now had I leasure to expostulate I would desire this Missioner who writes to me in your name to resolve me That since it would be very profitable for all Christians that the Scriptures should be infallibly interpreted why doth the Church of Rome employ particular Doctors to Interpret them fallibly Why are such different and contradictory Expositions published by her Authority Why doth she not rather Petition his Holiness or whoever else is best able to do it to explain them Infallibly Why doth she hide her Candle under a Bushel and keep her Talent of interpreting Scripture infallibly wrapt up in a Napkin How such unfaithfulness can be answer'd to her Lord and Master Jesus Christ I leave him sadly to consider To him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin James 4. 17. 3. I did direct you As far as possible to avoid all Disputes about Religion And thus far he allows you to follow my Advice For he hates contentions heats and animosities And indeed so do I as being fully convinced that it is much more profitable both for me and my Parish to spend my time in Devotion and practical Discourses then in these unpleasing Disputes And I have great reason to affirm That the rest of my Brethren of the Church of England are likewise of the same mind But since the importunity of others in seducing our People hath forced us to it we dare not now be silent and think our selves obliged as good Shepherds not only to feed our Flocks but also to keep them from wandring into by-paths and to defend them from those that would lead them astray To his Exceptions against my Fourth Expedient I do thus Reply That it will be time enough to enquire after the Priviledges of the Roman Church when you are first convinced That it is your Duty to leave the Communion of the Church of England Now whoever would perswade you to such a Separation I told you if he will proceed rationally and to the purpose he must first convince you That the Church of England is no sound Member of the Church Catholick But that her Doctrine is either Defective or False If he pretends that it is Defective he must then shew that there are some Truths necessarily to be believed as Articles of Faith which the Church of England doth not receive as such And also that there are some necessary Duties or Parts of Worship which the Church of England either wholly omits or else doth not require under any such necessity But if he affirms Secondly That the Doctrine of the Church of England is False he must then prove That the Church of England doth require some unlawful Condition of her Communion and that either in Faith or Worship Plainly thus He must make it appear That her Faith is Erroneous and contrary to the written word of God The Faith once deliver'd to the Saints Or else that her Worship is unlawful Superstitious or Idolatrous All this indeed he thought very reasonable And because he hath no leasure for long enquiries p. 7. I will not be so rude as to press him beyond his Measures However I must be so obliging as to assure him That when he hath found his Arguments I shall be ready to attend him And now my good Parishioners having dispatcht this Answer let me thus briefly enforce my former Admonition 'T IS a serious thing to change your Religion Eternity depends upon it And therefore 't is an unpardonable Error to be guilty of rashness in so weighty a concern Be not perswaded out of your Senses with confidence and noise Nor do you presently conclude that some men are in the Right because they say it is impossible they should be in the Wrong If they think to frighten you into their way by telling you that you are other-wise Damned Regard such threatnings no more then you would the Ravings of a Quaker For not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord Commendeth 2 Cor. 10. 18. Be not discouraged nor suspect the truth of your Faith because at first hearing you cannot Answer a Sophistical Objection Thinking men who expect solid Arguments may possibly be surpriz'd on the suddain with such slender Stuff For even a Child may puzzle a States-man at Riddle my Riddle But these kind of Tricks when a little examined how trifling do they appear and signify nothing but the Confidence of those who urge them Remember this and shew your selves men FINIS