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
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
first under this Title 6. Dr. Sherlock's Preservative considered First Part with its Defence c. By Lewis Sabran of the Society of Jesus This Answer was writ in such a violence of Passion and does charge the Reverend Master of the Temple at such a rate with Ignorance Calumny and God knows what that he hath at last condefcended to chastise this ignorant Jesuit himself and the World will very speedily see that never Man set Pen to Paper with such a stock of Ignorance and Considence together as this Father Sabran After which if he shall still continue to write in spite both of good Learning and of good Manners it is to be hoped that at least we shall be excused by all those who have any share of either if we do not give either our selves or them the trouble of any farther Replies to him A Vindication of both Parts of the Preservative against Popery In Answer to the Cavils of Lewis Sabran Jesuit By William Sherlock D.D. Master of the Temple II. Of the CHURCH 1. A Discourse of the Unity of the Catholic Church maintained in the Church of England 2. A Discourse about the Charge of Novelty upon the Reformed Church of England made by the Papists asking of us the Question Where was our Religion before LUTHER 3. The Protestant Resolution of Faith being an Answer to three Questions 1. How far we must depend on the Authority of the Church for the true Sense of Scripture 2. Whether a Visible Succession from Christ to this day makes a Church which has this Visible Succession an Infallible Interpreter of Scripture 3. Whether the Church of England can make out such a Visible Succession 4. Two Discourses concerning the Necessity of Reformation with respect to the Errors and corruptions of the Church of Rome There was a Third Part intended by the Reverend and Learned Author of these two Discourses which we have hopes that it will be published ere long under the same Title III. Of the Rule of Faith. 1. A Discourse about Tradition shewing what is meant by it and what Tradition is to be received and what is to be rejected 2. A Discourse concerning a Guide in matters of Faith with respect especially to the Romish pretence of such a one as is Infalliable IV. Of Particular Points 1. A Discourse concerning the Object of Religious Worship or a Scripture-proof of the unlawfulness of giving any Religious Worship to any other Being besides the Supreme God. 2. A Discourse concerning the Devotions of the Church of Rome especially as compared with those of the Church of England In which it is shewn that whatsoever the Romanists pretend there is not so true Devotion among them nor such rational provision for it nor Encouragement to it as in the Church Establish'd by Law amongst us 3. A Discourse concerning the Invocation of Saints 4. Of Prayer in an Unknown Tongue 5. Of Auricular Confession as it is prescribed by the Council of Trent 6. A Discourse against Transubstantiation 7. Of the Adoration of the Host These are the several Discourses mention'd in the former †Present State pag. 5 6 7 8. Catalogue to these I must add several others that have since been publish'd 8. Two Discourses of Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead To which I may subjoyn a Discourse just now publish'd viz. 9. Purgatory proved by Miracles c. 10. A Discourse concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass 11. Of Extreme Unction And here it may not be improper to observe that the Author of this Accurate Discourse thought fit to premise to it an Address to the Vindicator of the Bishop of Condom upon the occasion of some things just then publish'd by him in his Reply to our Expositor relating to this Argument but especially concerning Cardinal Cajetan's confessing that their only Text for this pretended Sacrament that of St. James made nothing for it To this the Vindicator gave a half-shee Reply called A Letter from the Vindicator of the Bishop of Condom to the Author of a late Discourse concerning the Sacrament of Extreme Unction And this produced another Letter in Reply to it Intituled A Second Letter from the Author of the Discourse concerning Extreme Unction to the Vindicator of the Bishop of Condom Which put an end to this Debate Though the Vindicator made us hope for a Reply to that Excellent Discourse but I presume will not esteem himself obliged to be as good as his word 12. A Treatise in confutation of the Latin Service practised and by the Order of the Trent Council continu'd in the Church of Rome 13. Of the Authority of Councils and the Rule of Faith. 14. Of the Celibacy of the Clergy 15. Of the incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome 16. A Discourse concerning the Merits of Good Works 17. An Historical Discourse concerning the Necessity of the Ministers Intentions in administring the Sacrament I shall perhaps be look'd upon to have referr'd many Tracts to the number of these Discourses against the Papists that did not enter into the first design that was laid for them But I know not to what Head I could so properly refer them as to this and if they help to make up the Collection of Particular Points in Debate betwixt us it matters not by what Occasion or with what Design they were first composed I do not know that any more of these Treatises have been particularly attack'd by those of the other Communion except that one only against Transubstantiation which having after some years being let alone given at last occasion to a formed Controversie yet in agitation I will before I go any farther remark what has hitherto passed concerning it The first that appear'd in Answer to it was a Hot New-Convert under the Glorious Title of Reason and Authority or the Motives of a late Protestant's Reconciliation to the Catholic Church together with Remarks upon some late Discourses against Transubstantiation But the Performance was so mean so disproportion'd to the Strength and Merits of the Discourse he had undertaken to attack that it is to be presumed the weakness of the New Convert obliged some more able Controvertist to appear as his Second and to publish not long after a new and better Answer call'd Transubstantiation Defended and proved from Scripture in Answer to the First Part of a Treatise Intituled A Discourse against Transubstantiation And to make all sure a Third about the same time undertakes the same Cause in a Discourse which he calls An Answer to a Discourse against Transubstantiation It is no part of my Design to give any Character of these Treatises I will only observe that the Second which seems to have been written with the most care continues still unfinish'd the Author whoever he be having not yet thought fit to publish his 2d Part. Now this I the rather remark to satisfie those who have long expected our Reply to these Treatises what has been in some measure the Cause of the deferring
I cannot better give an Account than in this place It is not long since that with the old design of exposing the Ministers of the Church of England to the Censures of the World as Men who made it their Business at any rate to run down Popery he set forth a malicious Discourse call'd by him 1. Good Advice tu the Pulpits c. In which he rakes together out of the Sermons published in the last years of the late King's Reign whatever he thought would serve to make them odious The Design was well enough laid and the Circumstances of the Times consider'd it were not to be wondred if some things should have pass'd more hot against those of the Church of Rome than was to have been wished But either our Ministers were then as they have always been very moderate or this Author has been a very careless Examiner of their Excesses However his Attempt soon met with a solid Confutation in an excellent Treatise Entituled 2. An Apology for the Pulpits And in which our Divines are fully justified against his Exceptions To this he has lately set forth an Answer called 3. Pulpit-sayings or the Characters of the Pulpit-Papist examined To which there is an Answer called 4. Pulpit-Popery True Popery And hitherto has this first sort of Controversie been carried on A second thing which has given occasion to some Disputes these late years and which for the Affinity it has to the foregoing I chuse next to mention is SECT II. Of a pretended Agreement of the Church of England with the Church of Rome AND this too the Representer is reported to have had a principal hand in It is no very long time since a Book was published in order to this end and called in express terms An Agreement between the Church of England and the Church of Rome Agreement between the C. of E. and the C. of R. I think I needed not have made any change of my former Head for this Treatise there being perhaps not a more foul Misrepresentation in the World than what the great Chastiser of Misrepresenters has made here in such a pretence as this But tho his Title be General yet the main design of his Book was to expose a particular person of our Church D. Sherlock and whom indeed they have all the reason in the world if they can by any means to run down for I know no man that does the and their Cause more mischief by those excellent Treatises which he continues still to publish against them However both the general and the particular design of this new Contrivance has been effectually answered in the two Replies that have come forth to it viz. 1. The Difference between the Church of England and the Church of Rome in Opposition to a late Book intituled An Agreement c. 2. A Vindication of some Protestant Principles of Church-Unity and Catholick-Communion from the charge of Agreement with the Church of Rome By Dr. Sherlock But what this Author attempted in a more general manner the Publisher of Discourses against us at Oxford more particularly endeavoured with reference to the Holy Eucharist in which as he pretends there is little or no difference between the true Sons of the Church of England and those of the Other Communion And which therefore shall be the next General Head of Controversies to which I will now pass viz. SECT III. Of the Real Presence Of the Disputes which have passed these last years concerning the Holy Eucharist And here I. Concerning the REAL PRESENCE THis is the Point in which Mr. W. would fain piece up a kind of Agreement betwixt us though all the World sees nothing can be more different than the Doctrine of the Real Presence as taught in the Church of England and that of Transubstantiation which is the Real Presence believed in the Church of Rome But however it be Mr. W. doubts not to make it appear That our Divines have asserted the very same Presence of Christ in effect in the Eucharist that the Romanists maintain in a Treatise called 1. Two Discourses concerning the Adoration of our Blessed Saviour in the Eucharist And the former of which wholly pursues the pretended Agreement I have now been speaking of To this there came out first a London Answer in which his Quotations were fully examined his Pretences considered and the whole matter largely stated And in return to his Allegations of some of our Church that believed their Real Presence an Account was given of several that have lived and died in their Communion that neither did nor could believe any such thing The Title of it is 2. A Discourse of the Holy-Eucharist in the Two great Points of the Real Presence and the Adoration of the Host Not long after this a Person of great Worth at Oxford publish'd a second Confutation of the same Piece but with this difference That whereas the former Discourse examined at large his Quotations this chiefly consider'd the Principles on which he proceeded and the Arguments he brought to justifie his Pretences It is called 3. A Reply to Two Discourses lately printed at Oxford concerning the Adoration of our Blessed Saviour in the Holy Eucharist And here this Controversie rested till the last Term when Mr. W. publishing another Treatise upon the same Subject viz. 4. A Compendious Discourse on the Eucharist Added to the End of it two Appendixes in answer to the two Tracts that had been written against them It appears by the Heat and Bitterness of these little Satyrs how much those Books had troubled him and how unable he is to command himself even there where he pretends the most to do it One would have thought after what the Representer had done we had seen the height of what a licentious Pen could arise to in matters of such seriousness But indeed this poor impotent old Man has convinced us of our Error and shewn such an indecent Passion in the menage of his Answer as is much more to be pitied than valued But I shall leave it to those who are engaged with him to take notice of these things It is not to be doubted but that in a little time their Answers will be finish'd both the One and the Other being as I am informed already in good forwardness II. Of Communion in Both Kinds COMMUNION in BOTH KINDS Having thus given an Account of what has pass'd as to the Point of the Real Presence the next thing that naturally offer'd its self was the Doctrine of Transubstantiation But there has pass'd so much concerning this Controversie that I was willing before I came to that to consider all the lesser Debates that have risen relating to this Holy Sacrament The occasion of this Engagement was this Monsieur de Meaux having some years since composed a famous Book upon this Argument it was thought fit by those of the Church of Rome to translate that also as well as the rest of his Tracts into
Catholics in Matters of Faith. Written in French by Monsieur Maimbourg 2. Seek and ye shall find or a search into the Grounds of Religion c. 3. Monsieur de Meaux 's Conference with Monsieur Claude concerning the Authority of the Church SECT V. To these Disputes concerning the Church I do not know any that I can so sitly subjoin as those which regard the pretended Priviledges and Authority of St. PETER and of the POPES as His Successors IT is now some time since an Eminent Person of the other Communion Dr. Godden began the Contest as to this matter in a Sermon Preach'd by him in the Queen Dowagers Chappel and called A Sermon of St. Of S. Peter and the Pope Peter preached before her Majesty the Queen Dowager June 29. 1686. In requital of this a very Learned Man of our Church set out a Sermon which he had occasionally Preach'd in his own Church the very same Day upon the same Text intituled A sermon Preach'd upon S. Peter 's Day Printed at the desire of some that heard it with some Enlargements by a Divine of the Church of England I will not say any thing more of these Two Discourses than this That whoso shall please to read them will find what is to be urged from that famous Text Thou art Peter c. on either side and when they compare them together may judg as they shall find the evidence of Truth to incline them But of this large Subject much more has been set forth and it shall suffice to give a very brief Account of it 1. The Catholick Ballance or a Discourse determining the Controversies concerning 1. The Tradition of Catholic Doctrines 2. The Primacy of S. Peter and the Bishop of Rome 3. The Subjection and Authority of the Church in a Christian State. 2. The Antiquity of the Protestant Religion with an Answer to Mr. Sclater 's Reasons and the Collections of Nobes Testium 3. A modest Enquiry Whether S. Peter were ever at Rome and Bishop of that Church 4. Sure and Honest Means for the Conversion of all Hereticks Of St. Peter and the Popes Supremacy and wholesome Advice and Expedients for the Reformation of the Church 5. Dialogues between Philerene and Philalethe These are I think the chief Discourses that have been Published by our Divines relating to the Prerogatives and Authority that some pretend to in behalf of St. Peter and the Bishops of Rome his Successors As for those which have been sent abroad on this Head by those of the Other Communion these are the Principal that have come to my Knowledg 1. St. Peter 's Supremacy faithfully discuss'd according to Holy Scripture and Greek and Latin Fathers By Mr. Clenche 2. The Popes Supremacy Asserted from the Considerations of some Protestants and the practice of the Primitive Church in a Dialogue between a Church-Divine and a Seeker In Vindication of Nubes Testium Concerning this last Discourse you must observe that it does belong to the Controversie about the Nubes Testium betwixt the Representer and the Divine of our Church who answered that Collection The Representer made a very faint defence of his Nubes against that Answer but gave it a good Title calling it The Primitive Fathers no Protestants To which Mr. G. shortly after replied in his Primitive Fathers no Papists after which that Controversie rested till the Representer peept out again with this Tract in defence of one point only of his Nubes Testium but whoever will take the pains to look into it will find that the Representer's Stock is quite spent and therefore he is forc'd to patch up these Learned Dialogues out of his own Nubes Testium and the Appendix with the addition only of a few bold strokes which F. Sabran would have call'd Calumnies about Dr. Sherlock c. So that this Book deserves no Answer at all however a very Learned Person of our Church having undertaken to answer Mr. Clcuche's Book and Dr. Godden's Sermon about the Pope's Supremacy hath condescended to consider this Tract also and the world will very speedily be obliged with a Compleat and Learned Answer to them all under this Title A Discourse of the Popes Supremacy in Two Parts The First In Answer to a Treatise Entitul'd Saint Peter's Supremacy faithfully discuss'd according to Holy Scripture and Greek and Latin Fathers And to a Sermon of St. Peter Preach'd before her Majesty the Queen Dowager on St. Peter and St. Paul 's day by Tho. Godden D. D. The Second In Answer to a Discourse Entitul'd The Pope's supremacy asserted from the Considerations of some Protestants and the Practice of the Primitive Church in Vindication of Nubes Testium SECT VI. Such have been the Treatises that have pass'd on both sides concerning the Popes Authority The next Point which seems to follow the nearest upon these and which indeed is chiefly founded on Arguments drawn from the Pretences before mention'd is that of our unwarrantableness in separating from the Church of Rome and Chair of St. Peter And concerning which much has been done on both sides AS for our Divines the Treatises they have publish'd in Vindication of our Reformation from the Charge of SCHISM and HERESIE have been these that follow 1. A Vindication of the Church of England from the foul aspersions of Schism and Heresie unjustly cast upon her by the Church of Rome In two Parts Of the Charge of Schism and Heresie 2. An Answer to a late Printed Paper given about by Some of the Church of Rome In a Letter to a Gentleman 3. An Answer to the Considerations which obliged Dean Manby to embrace what he calls the Catholic Religion 4. Notes upon Lucilla and Elizabeth 5. An Apologetical Vindication of the Church of England in Answer to those who reproach her with the English Heresies and Schisms or suspect her not to be a Catholic Church upon their account 6. A few plain reasons why a Protestant of the Church of England should not turn Roman Catholic 7. An Answer to the Spirit of M. Luther and the Original of the Reformation lately Printed at Oxford 8. Animadversions on Mr. W's Discourse of Church-Government In two Parts 9. Reflections on the relation of the English Reformation lately Printed at Oxford and on the Oxford Theses Two Parts 10. An Answer to a Book Intituled Reason and Authority or the Motives of a late Protestant's Reconciliation to the Catholic Church Together with a brief Account of Augustine the Monk and the Conversion of the English 11. The State of the Church of Rome when the Reformation began as it appears by the Advices given to Paul III. and Julius III. by Creatures of their Own. 12. The Queries offer'd by T. W. to the Protestants concerning the English Reformation Re-printed and Answer'd Nor have those of the Roman Communion been sparing in this Argument but have made this a Great Subject of Contention against us As will appear by the following Account 1. Lucilla and
Feasts her Conception and Nativity are considered We are in hopes that the Excellent Author of this most ingenious and diverting Discourse will e're long oblige the World with a Second Part and teach the Papists at length to grow ashamed of their intolerable Superstitions towards the Virgin Mary As for those of the other Communion it is but little they have published in particular on this Subject besides what I have already mentioned But two Pieces there are which I ought by no means no forget viz. 1. Contemplations on the Life and Glory of H. Mary 2. An Apology for the Contemplations by Dr. I. C. Which Apology was fully answered in the ingenious Preface to the Book called An Account of the Life and Death of the Blessed Virgin. SECT IX Of the Validity of Orders in the C. of E. I shall mention but one Particular more on which we have of late as heretofore been attack'd by those of the Roman Church and effectually Vindicated our selves both against their Calumnies and their Reasons and that is as to the Validity of ORDERS in the Church of England THE Occasion of reviving this Matter was given by a little Scurrilous Libel that went abroad under the name of The Church of England truly Represented And in Reply to whose Calumnies Three Discourses have been Published two of them new the other only reprinted viz. 1. A Vindication of the Ordinations of the Church of England in answer to a Paper written by one of the Church of Rome to prove the Nullity of our Orders 2. A Defence of the Ordinations and Ministry of the Church of England in Answer to the Scandals raised or revived against them in several late Pamphlets and particularly in one intituled the Church of England truly Represented c. 3. A short Defence of the Orders of the Church of England as by Law establish'd against some scattered Objections of Mr. Webster of Linne But this Subject hath been most largely and learnedly handled by the Learned Mr Brown of S. John's College in Cambridge in his Sermon ad Clerum and in another Sermon Preached before the University on Commencement Sunday Translated into Latin and both together Printed at Cambridge under this Title 4. Concio ad Clerum habita coram Academia Cantabrigiensi Junii 11. An. 1687. pro Gradu Baccal in S. Theologia Vbi vindicatur Vera Valida Cleri Anglicani Ineunte Reformatione Ordinatio Cui accessit Concio habita Julii 3. 1687. de Canonica Cleri Anglicani Ordinatione Latine reddita aucta a Th. Brown S. T. B. Coll. D. Joh. Evang Soc. annexum est Instrumentum Consecrationis Matth. Parker Archiep. Cant. ex MS. C. C. C. Cantabr I hear the worthy Author hath been very earnestly requested to Translate these Latin Sermons into English and I am told that he delays it only upon the account of some Answer that the Papists have been talking they would give to them being desirous to make his Translation and Vindication one trouble I cannot therefore but in the behalf of those who are so desirous to have these Sermons in English request our Adversaries That if they have any thing to say to them they would make a little more haste with it And for the mighty Master of Controversie who I hear hath resolved to answer a Paragraph in one of them I must needs tell him That Nine Months is more by Eight and an half than an ordinary Controvertist would have taken to answer such a Piece in But in this Controversie we have not been merely upon the Defensive Part but have attack'd their Orders as well as defended our own This a Learned Man of our Church hath done in a Book under this Title 5. Roman Catholics uncertain whether there be any true Priests or Sacraments in the Church of Rome Miscellany Treatises SECT X. Having thus reduced the Principal Treatises that have been set forth to their Particular Heads as far as in so great a Confusion of Matter I could well do it it remains only to add here such Treatises on both sides as I have before pass'd by or could not be so readily brought to any special Consideration NOW those of this kind which have been set forth by the CHURCH of ROME are these 1. Question of Questions 2. Why are you a Catholic 3. Popery Anatomized or the Papists clear'd from the false Imputation of Idolatry and Rebellion 4. Veritas Evangelica or the Gospel Truth asserted in xvi useful Questions 5. Pope Pius Profession of Faith vindicated c. 6. Dr. Sherlock sifted from his Bran and Chaff 7. The Pharisee unmask'd 8. Assertio vii Sacramentorum by King Henry viiith against Luther 9. A Reformd Catechism by P. Manby 10. Animadversions on the Rishop of Bath's Sermon c. To these they have because not at leisure to write new Books or for some other better Reason added an old Book written by one F. Huddleston a Benedictine it is called 11. A Short and Plain way to the Faith and Church c. To this there is an Answer almost finished by a very Learned Person who will demonstrate to the World how little that Book had in it to convince On Our Part have appear'd of this Miscellany kind these that follow 1. Remarks on Popery Misrepresented with reference to the Deposing Doctrine 2. Pope Pius's Creed with Comments 3. The Additional Articles in Pope Pius's Creed no Articles of the Christian Faith. 4. A few plain Reasons why a Protestant of the Church of England should not turn Roman Catholic 5. Thirty plain but sound Reasons why Protestants differ from Popery 6. A Discourse shewing that Protestants are on the safer side notwithstanding the uncharitable Judgement of their Adversaries and that their Religion is the surest way to Heaven 7. A Pacifick Discourse of the Causes and Remedies of the Differences about Religion which distract the Peace of Christendom 8. The Missionaries Arts discover'd 9. A Request to Roman Catholics to answer certain Queries on several of their Tenets mention'd 10. A Brief Account of the first rise of the Name Protestant c. 11. An Historical Relation of several great and learned Romanists that have embraced the Protestant Religion 12. A Catechism truly representing the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome with an Answer to them 13. The Plausible Arguments of a Romish Priest Answer'd by an English Protestant 14. A Discourse between two Protestants in Answer to a Popish Catechism call'd A Short Catechism against all Sectaries 15. A Plain Defence of the Protestant Religion fitted to the Meanest Capacity being a full confutation of the Net for the Fishers of Men. 16. Some Queries to Protestants Answer'd and an Explication of the Roman Catholic 's Belief in Four great Points consider'd 1. Concerning their Church 2. Their Worship 3. Justification 4. Civil Government 17. The Judgement of Private Discretion in matters of Religion defended in a Sermon at S. Paul 's Covent-Garden By Mr. Kidder 18. The
Controversie and too late to see that Truth and Learning are not to be run down by those who are utterly destitute of the One and as far as we may be allowed to guess by their performances have but very slender pretences to the Other The truth is Propery is a Religion fit only for an Inquisition to maintain and Dragoons to propagate Ignorance and Barbarity brought it into the World Interest and Passion maintain and keep it up No sooner did Learning begin to revive but Popery began immediately to decay and ever since the One has still decreased in proportion as the Other has flourish'd And to think at this time a day seriously to dispute a Nation so resolute and knowing as Ours again into the Errors of it plainly shews either that our Adversaries have a very mean Opinion of our Vnderstandings or I am sure deserve that we should have no very great one of theirs But whatever they once may have flatter'd themselves withal I am confident they now begin to be satisfied That Popery is a Religion that will not thrive in our Northern Climate And tho they are pleased sometimes to divert themselves with our Divisions and it may be did from thence conceive some hopes of promoting their Interest amongst us yet I doubt not but they now see that we are not so much divided amongst our selves as we are all of us heartily united against them As for the Divines of the Church of England how firmly they have adhered to the Protestant Interest is not unknown to any Their Preaching their Conversation but above all their Writings declare it to the World And how fouly by consequence they were heretofore either mistaken or misrepresented when they were exposed by some who I believe wish'd them so as Papists in Masquerade or at least as Popishly affected Never perhaps was there a Controversie more successfully managed than this has been in these late Years Till now these Points were handled in such a manner that if the Learned applauded the performance yet the Vulgar were but little the better for it But in these Discourses Strength of Argument and Plainness of Discourse seem to vie with one another The Arguments so sound as to convince all Gain-sayers and yet the Plainness so great that the meanest Persons may comprehend the force of them And thus have they pursued not one or two Points but I may warrantably say the whole Controversy betwixt us Insomuch that from henceforth we may well excuse them any farther trouble till either our Adversaries shall think fit to answer their Discourses or to advance some other Arguments than those which have already been obviated and confuted But indeed there is no great likelihood of either of these and I dare venture to promise my Reader that let those of the Church of Rome attacque him where they please let them in writing or discourse offer what they are able to him he shall here in this Collection which I therefore on purpose make of several of these Treatises under their proper Heads find more than enough to answer all their Allegations I. GENERAL DISCOURSES Or such as consider the most part of the Points in debate betwixt us 1. The Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome truly Represented 2. Answer to the Bishop of Condom's Exposition 3. Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England 4. Two Desences of the Exposition 5. An Answer to the Compiler of the Nubes Testium 6. The Primitive Father no Papists 7. Pope Pius's Creed with Comments 8. the Additional Articles in Pope Pius's Creed no Articles in the Christian Faith. II. Of RELIGIOUS WORSHIP 1. A Discourse concerning the OBJECT of Religious Worship 2. A Discourse concerning the Devotions of the Church of Rome III. Of PRAYER in an UNKNOWN TONGUE 1. A Discourse of Prayer in an Unknown Tongue 2. A Treatise in Confutation of the Latin Service c. IV. Of the INVOCATION of SAINTS 1. A Discourse concerning the INVOCATIONS of SAINTS 2. Second Defence of the Exposition Artic. III. 3. An Answer to Papists protesting against Protestant Popery 4. Mr. Gee's third Letter to Father Sabran 5. The Primitive Fathers no Papists 6. A Discourse in Answer to Monsieur de Meaux's Appeal to the IVth Age. Paticularly of the B. VIRGIN See several Discourses collected Pag. 52 53. V. Of IMAGES and RELIQUES 1. The Antiquity of the Protestant Religion concerning Images 2. The Vindication of it See above pag. 48. The Fallibility of the Church of Rome demonstrated from the manifest Error of the Second Nicene and Trent Councils in the Pint of Images 4. A Discourse concerning the 2d Council of Nice which first introduced and established Image Worship in the Christian Church 5. Second Defence of the Exposition Part 2. Art. IV. 6. Answer to Papists protesting against Protestant Popery VI. Of IDOLATRY A Discourse concerning the Nature of Idolatry in Answer to the Bishop of Oxon. VII Of MERITS SATISFACTIONS PURGATORY and INDULGENCES 1. Two Discourses of Purgatory and PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 2. Purgatory proved by Miracles 3. Apology for the Pulpits Appendix of Indulgences 4. The Primitive Fathers no Papists for Purgatory 5. Summary of the Controversies for Purgatory 6. A Discourse concerning the Merits of Good Works VIII Of the SACRAMENTS An Historical Discourse of the Ministers Intentions in Administring the Sacraments IX Of CONFESSION and PENANCE A Discourse of Auricular Consession as prescribed by the Council of Trent X. Of EXTREME UNCTION 1. A Discourse of Extreme Unction XI Of ORDERS 1. A Vindication of the Ordinations of the Church of England 2. Concio ad Clerum c. See Pag. 54 55. 3. A Defence of the Ordinations and Ministry of the Church of England 4. A short Defence of the Orders of the Church of England To these Learned Discourles we shall shortly have added another upon the same good Subject from the Reverend and Leanred Dr. Prideaux Prebendary of Norwich intituled 5. The Validity of the Orders of the Church of England made out against the Objections of the Papists in several Letters to a Gentleman of Norwich that desired satisfaction therein 6. Roman Catholics uncertain whether there be any true Priests or Sacraments in the Church of Rome XII Of the REAL PRESENCE 1. A Discourse of the Holy Eucharist in the two great Points of the Real Presence and the Adoration of the Host 2. A Reply to two Discourses printed at Oxford c. XIII Of TRANSUBSTANTIATION 1. A Discourse against Transubstantiation 2. Transubstantiation no Doctrine of the primitive Fathers 3. Full View of the Doctrines and Practices of the Ancient Church relating to the Eucharist c. 4. Transubstantiation contrary to Scripture 5. A Paraphrase with Notes and a Preface on the vith of St. John. See many other Tracts above from pag. 22. 7. Veteres Vindicati in Answer to Mr. Sclater 8. A Discourse of the Holy Eucharist in Answer to Mr. W. 9. Fourth Letter to a Person of Quality See
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
Late Worthy and Learned Author of the Defence of the State and View of the Controversie before mentioned II. The Expounding Controversie It was not long after the beginning of this that the better to promote the same design another Engagement of the like kind was set on foot under the Title of An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholick Church in matters of Controversie I need not say that this piece was Originally written in French and published many years since by the Bishop then of Condom now of Meaux The prosecution that has been made of this matter in the Books that have been published on both sides have given a very large Account of this to the world and what is farther necessary for the understanding of the design of it may be seen already set down in the former part of the * Pag. 15 16. Present State of the Controversie I will therefore only perfect the catalogue of what has past in this Enterprize also on both sides by adding to that already given those other Treatises that have been publish'd since the former State was sent abroad 1. An Answer to the Bishop of Condom's Exposition c. with Reflections upon his Pastoral Letter And concerning which I shall observe only what was before remarked That to this day no attempt has been made of returning one word in Answer to it 2. An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England in the several Articles proposed by the Bishop of Condom in his Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholick Faith. To this in a little time came out an Answer Intituled 3. A Vindication of the Bishop of Condom 's Exposition with a Letter from the said Bishop And to that not long after a Reply called 4. A Defence of the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England against the Exceptions of the Bishop of Condom and his Vindicator And here this Controversie rested for some time and it was by many supposed would have ended But at last both the Bishop and his Vindicator resolved once more to venture into the world and so after a long expectation an Answer was published to this last Treatise viz. 5. A Reply to the Defence of the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England With a Second Letter from the Bishop of Meaux To this there have been two Treatises already returned and we may in some time expect a Third to be added to them as soon as the Author has discharged himself of a new ‖ O. W's Appendix in answer to the Discourse of the real Presence and Adoration of the Host Adversary which has since attacked Him on another account The Vindicator it is hoped will not think much of a little delay in this matter especially since I am Commissioned to promise him that let Him make what hast he will the last Part shall be got ready for Him before He has finished any reasonable Answer to those already published If it be enquired here Wherefore this last Defence was divided into so many Parts I presume this account may be given of it That the Vindicator having run his Answer into a greater length than the ordinary rate of these Discourses usually allows of either no just Reply must have been made to it which our Expositor was unwilling they should be able to object to Him Or if there were He thought it would be much more acceptable to the world as well as less burdensome to Himself to publish his Answer at several times than to be opprest with so large a Volume as it would have amounted to all together What is already finished will be found under these Titles 6. A Second Defence of the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England against the new Exceptions of Monsieur de Meaux and His Vindicator Part I. In which the Account that has been given of the Bishop of Meaux 's Exposition is fully Vindicated the dictinction of Old and New Popery Historically Asserted and the Doctrine of the Church of Rome in point of Image-Worship more particularly consider'd Part II. In which the Romish Doctrines concerning the Nature and Object of Religious Worship Of the Invocation of Saints and Worship of Images and Reliques are consider'd and the Charge of Idolatry made Good against those of the Church of Rome upon the Account of them And thus far our Expositor has carried his Reply whilst the Second of these Parts was writing the Vindicator attacked the First according to their Modern way of Controversie in a sheet and half yet call'd it A Full Answer to the Second Defence of the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England in a Letter to the Defender But the Author of the View of the Controversie being at that time engaged in a Reply to the Representer and finding some congruity that the Answer to both of them should come out together for the reasons given in the Preface to His Treatise the Defender was left at liberty to go on with his design and yet the Vindicator not suffered to complain for want of Consideration The Reply I have in part mention'd before but I will now give the Title of it at its full length An Answer to the Representer's Reflections upon the State and View of the Controversie With a Reply to the Vindicator's Full Answer shewing That the Vindicator has utterly ruined the new design of Expounding and Representing Popery III. Having now given account of those two principal Controversies that have of late been carried on among us of Expounding and Representing the Points in debate betwixt us and the Church of Rome I cannot better close this Point than with this remark That in a very little time after the Bishop of Condom's Exposition was set forth by the Vindicator we were also obliged with the Translation of another of that Prelate's Pieces called A Pastoral Letter to the New Converts of his Diocess It is not necessary to say that the Bishop in this Piece pursued still the design of his Exposition That has been already shewn in the Answer to it which I before remarked at the end of the other Reply that was made to His Exposition and which still continues Unanswered That which has made more Noise is his open declaring to the New Converts of his Diocess that they knew there had been no such thing as a Persecution in France And the falseness and unsincerity of which declaration has been sufficiently exposed both in the former part of the ‖ Pag. 22. Sec. Defence Answer to the Bishops Letter State of the Controversie and in the second Defence of the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England And thither I shall remit those that desire to inform themselves more particularly of this matter IV. Good Advice to the Pulpits I should here have dismissed this Argument had not the great Misrepresenter that began this Point lately pursued it in a new Undertaking and of which
of the Controversie gave an account of the beginning of these how our Divines engaged themselves to a weekly consideration of them till they had past through the largest Catalogue we have yet had of these Notes viz. that of Cardinal Bellarmin They were then advanced to the third only but now the whole is finished and those little Exceptions which our Aaversaries thought fit to make to them are fully answered and they altogether compose a just Volume and plainly shew that were the Church indeed endued with all those Prerogatives they pretend it is yet would it stand them in no stead seeing that according to their own Notes the Church of Rome cannot possibly be the Catholic or Vniversal Church The Notes which on this occasion have been particularly examined are these 1. An Examination of BELLARMIN's First Note concerning the Name of Catholick 2. His Second Note Antiquity 3. His Third Note Duration 4. His Fourth Note Amplitude or Multitude and Variety of Believers 5. His Fifth Note The Succession of Bishops 6. His Sixth Note Agreement in Doctring with the Primitive Church 7. His Seventh Note Vnion of the Members among themselves and with the Head. 8. His Eighth Note Sanctity of Doctrine 9. His Ninth Note Efficacy of the Doctrine 10. His Tenth Note Holiness of Life 11. His eleventh Note The Glory of Miracles 12. His Twelfth Note The Light of Prophecy 13. His thirteenth Note Confession of Adversaries 14. His Fourteenth Note The unhappy End of the Church's Enemies 15. His Fifteenth Note Temporal Felicity To which is prefixed A Brief Discourse concerning the Notes of the Church with some Reflections on Cardinal Bellarmin's Notes And annexed A Vindication of the Brief Discourse concerning the Notes of the Church in Answer to a Late Pamphlet Intituled The Vse and great Moment of the Notes of the Church as delivered by Cardinal Bellarmin de Notis Ecclesia Justified A Defence of the Confuter of Bellarmin 's Second Note of the Church Antiquity against the Cavils of the Adviser II. Of the UNITY and AUTHORITY of the Church Of the Unity and Authority of the Church This is another Argument that has exercised the Pen of a very great Person amongst as The occasion of his entring on the Debate was given by the publishing of some Papers of His late Majesty and which are in every Bodies hand called 1. The two Papers written by the late King Charles the Second To these an Answer was published Intituled 2. An Answer to some Papers lately Printed concerning the Authority of the Catholick Church in matters of Faith and the Reformation of the Church of England It was not long before two of the other side appeared about the same time in defence of the Royal Papers The one very light and in some places even ridiculous and which shews that the Author's Talent lies towards Controversie no more in Prose than it appears by the Hind and Panther that it do's in Verse called 3. A Defence of the Papers written by the late King of Blessed Memory The other much ore solid and grave than the former Intituled 4. A Reply to the Answer made upon the Three Royal Papers To both of which the Learned Author returned a most accurate and elaborate Discourse viz. 5. A Vindication of the Answer to some late Papers concerning the Unity and Authority of the Catholic Church and the Reformation of the Church of England And thus far this Controversie proceeded But there have been some other Discourses besides these published on this Subject In particular the excellent Discourse just published by the Reverend Dr. Sherlock with this Title A Discourse concerning the Nature Unity Of the Authority and Infallibility of the Church and Communion of the Catholick Church Wherein most of the Controversies relating to the Church are briefly and plainly stated Part 1. by William Sherlock D. D. Master of the Temple To these for the Affinity of the Subject I cannot do better than adjoyn III. Such other Treatises as have been publish'd relating to the AUTHORITY and INFALLIBILITY of the Church Where first I will beg leave to mention some short Picces which have passed betwixt a Country Parson and a Bomish Missioner The occasion as I am informed was this The Minister having observed some Endeavours to seduce his Flock thought it his duty to give them some seasonable directions which he therefore published under this Title 1. The Country Parson's Admonition to his Parishioners with directions how to behave themselves when any one designs to seduce them from the Church of England In which Tract he advises his Parishioners as far as possible to avoid all Disputes about Religion But if the Importunity of others shall force them to it he then directs them how to bring the matter to a short issue viz. by putting them to prove the pretended Infallibility of the Church of Rome And this he manageth under the Title of 2. The Plain Man's Reply to the Catholic Missionaries I ought not to conceal how acceptable those little Pieces have been to the World nor what good they have done among those for whose use they were chiefly designed Of the Infallibility of the Church And this those of the other side have been so sensible of that they have thought it worth their while to set out a pretended Confutation of them both called 3. The Plain Man's Answer to his Country Parson's Admonition Together with the Missionaries Answer to the Plain Man's Reply To which the worthy Author of the Two first Treatises has lately replied under these Titles 4. A Defence of the Country Parson's Admonition 5. A Defence of the Plain Man's Reply And here I think this Controversie has ended If any Answer has been published to these last Papers It is more than I have yet seen or heard of and I believe there is none As for those separate Discourses that have come forth relating to this matter the Principal if not all are these that follow On the Part of the Church of England 1. The Pillar and Ground of Truth a Treatise shewing that the Roman Church falsly claims to be THAT Church and the Pillar of THAT Truth mentioned by S. Paul in 1 Tim III. 11 15. 2. A Discourse concerning a Judge of Controversies in matters of Religion 3. A Plain and Familiar Discourse by way of Dialogue betwixt a Minister and his Parishioner concerning the Catholic Church 4. Reasons why a Protestant should not turn Papist in a Letter to a Romish Priest 5. Monsieur Claude 's Conference with the Bishop of Meaux Of the Authority of the Church 6. An Historical Examination of the Authority of General Councils 7. Of the Authority of Councils and the Rule of Faith. 8. A Sermon on S. Mark 's Day by Dr. Patrick 9. Doubts concerning the Roman Infallibility 10. A Short Discourse concerning the Church's Authority in Matters of Faith. On the Church of Rome 's Side 1. A Peaceable Method for the re-uniting Protestants and
Elizabeth or the Donatist and Protestant Schism Parallel'd 2. The Sum of a Conference had between two Divines of the Church of England and two Catholic Lay-Gentlemen in 1671. 3. The Church of England truly represented according to Dr. Heylin 's History of the Reformation 4. The Gonsiderations which obliged Peter Manby Dean of London-Derry to embrace the Roman Catholic Religion 5. Schelstrate his Dissertation against Dr. Stillingfleet concerning Patriarchal and Metropolitical Authority As to this Book since Mr. Schelstrate's Friends heve ventured to expose it in a Translation here the Reverend and Most Worthy Dean of Paul's will not fail if God continue him health and opportunity to give an Answer and I am sure the world will not be angry with me for raising their Expectations of the Dean's Answer since they are satisfied that he will make them sufficient amends for them 6. A discourse concerning the Spirit of Martin Luther and the Original of the Reformation 7. Church-Government Part V. A Relation of the English Reformation and the lawfulness thereof examined 8. Some Queries to Protestants concerning the English Reformation by T.W. 9. The Schism of the Church of England Demonstrated in Four Arguments formerly proposed to Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson the late Bishops of Ely and Chester by two Catholic Disputants in a celebrated Conference upon that Point This little Paper with a large Title was the other day Reprinted at Oxford by the Converts there The foul dealings and egregious disingenuity concerning that Conference as well as the weakness and falseness of its Arguments have been fully shewn in an Answer we have received just now from Cambridg from a Reverend Person who was particularly related to one of those abused Bishops The Title of his Answer is The Reformation of the Church of England justisied according to the Canons of the Council of Nice and other General Councils and the Tradition of the Catholic Church being an Answer to a Paper Re-printed at Oxford c. SECT VII And these are the chief Treatises that have been publish'd on these more General Points We come now to examine what has been done on the more particular Controversies And first we will begin with that which is the Ground of all The RULE of FAITH MAny have been the Debates concerning this both with relation to what we suppose to be the only Divine Rule viz. The HOLY SCRIPTUR Of the Rule of Faith. and with reference to that other which those of the Church of Rome have added to it viz. The TRADITION of the Church And 1. As to the Point of the HOLY SCRIPTURE these discourses have pass'd of late concerning it On the part of the Church of Rome 1. The Protestant's Plea for a Socinian justifying his Doctrine from being opposite to Scripture c. 2. Protestancy destitute of Scripture Proofs 3. A Request to Protestants to produce plain Scriptures directly Authorizing xvi Tenets held by them 4. The 6th 7th 8th 9th and 10th Chapters of the Second Part of the Catholic Representer 5. An Address to the Ministers of the Church of England 6. A Clear Proof of the Certainty and Usefulness of the Protestant Rule of Faith. 7. The Catholic Scripturist 8. Pax Vobix On the Protestant Part. 1. The difference betwixt the Protestant and Socinian Methods in Answer to a Book written by a Romanist and intituled The Protestant Plea for a Socinian 2. An Answer to the Request to protestants to produce plain Scriptures directly Authorizing their Tenets 3. A Summary of the Principal Controversies between the Church of England and the Church of Rome in Answer to Protestancy destitute of Scripture proofs 4. The Lay-Christians Obligation to read the Holy Scripture 5. The Peoples right to read the Holy Scripture asserted in Answer to the 6th 7th 8th 9th and 10th Chapters of the 2d part of the Popish Representer 6. A Treatise proving Scripture to be the Rule of Faith writ by Reginald Peacock Bishop of Chichester before the Reformation about the year 1450. 7. An Answer to the Address presented to the Ministers of the Church of England 8. A Vindication of the Answer to the Popish Address presented to the Ministers of the Church of England In reply to a Pamphlet abusively Intituled A Clear Proof of the Certainty and Usefulness of the Protestant Rule of Faith. 9. Some Dialogues between Mr. G. and others with Reflections on a Book called Pax Vobis To which I must add another and fuller Answer preparing to that same little Piece not yet Publish'd viz. 10. The Protestant and Popish way of Interpreting Scripture impartially compared in Answer to Pax Vobis 2. For what concerns the other Point TRADITION it has been the great Endeavour of some of late to set up once more the Infallibility of it But none with more Noise by an accident which I am now to recount than Mr. G. and the great Master of Controveesie and Patron of this new Hypothesis J. S. It happen'd about a year and half since that the forwardness of Mr. G. to engage in a Dispute wherein he was sure to have the disadvantage both in the Point and in the Person that was to manage it against him led him into a Conference with the Reverend and Learned the Dean of Pauls I need not say what passed there the whole haying since been published The Subject of the Debate was the Infallibility of Oral Tradition The Conference being over Mr. G. according to the perpetual Custom of the vain and assuming spirit of that Party began to make great Boasts in the Coffee-houses what Feats he had done and how great a Victory he had gained tho the Gentleman for whose sake the Conference was held declared himself much more confirmed in the Communion of our Church than he was before and resolved to continue in it This enforced the Dean to publish a short Expostulatory Letter called 1. A Letter to Mr. G. giving a true Account of a late Conference at the D. of P. In return to this Mr. M. who was with Mr. G. at the Conference returned a Letter or two to Dr. Stilling fleet concerning the Conference and these produced a second from the Dean of St. Pauls called 2. A second Letter to Mr. G. in Answer to two Letters lately Publish'd concerning the Conference at the D. of P. One of the Answers to the D. of P's first Letter was called 3. A Letter to the D. of P. in Answer to the Arguing part of his First Letter to Mr. G. To this a Person not yet concerned put in a Reply Intituled 4. A Letter to a Friend reflecting on some passages in a Letter to the D. of P. in Answer to the Arguing part of his first Letter to Mr. G. And here Mr. J.S. was thought fit to be entrusted with carrying on this weighty Controversie which he did in several Letters which he calls Catholic Letters in Answer to the former Letter to the second of the Dean's and to a Sermon which
Misrepresenter still he lets fly at the Principles of his Adversary and undertakes out of his grand concern for the Protestant Interest to shew our Divines that this Gentleman was one who for all his Pretences in their behalf really endeavour'd to set up Popery in Masquerade And to this end came out a formal Piece called 3. A Letter from a Dissenter to the Divines of the Church of England in order to a Vnion But to the great surprize of this Gentleman his Adversary who it seems was as well acquainted with Henry Hill's Press as Natalis Alexander's history and by a sort of Beauties so essential to the Representer that do what he can he is not able to disguise himself presently found out what an Ass was crept into the Lyon's Skin And to let the whole World see what an honest fair dealer this Representer is he quickly gave an account of it in Print in his Answer to the Pamphlet Intituled 4. a Vindication of the Principles of the Author of the Answer to the Compiler of the Nubes Testium from the Charge of Popery In Answer to a late pretended Letter from a Dissenter to the Divines of the Church of England To this I do not know that the Representer has yet replied But in defence of his Nubes Testium we have an Answer that every way befits the Character of its Author It is call'd 5. The Primitive Fathers no Protestants Or a Vindication of Nubes Testium from the Cavils of the Answerer And that has produced us another Defence viz. 6. The Primitive Fathers no Papists In Answer to the Vindication of the Nubes Testium To which is added an Historical Discourse concerning Invocation of Saints in Answer to the Challenge of Father Lewis Sabran the Jesuit And here it was thought this Controversy would have ended till the other day the Representer peept out with his Defence of one Chapter of his Nubes Testium which I have already mentioned under this Title The Popes Supremacy Asserted To which an Answer will be shortly in the Press And here this Debate might have ended had not a short Postscript at the Close of the first Answer to the Nubes Testium engaged our Worthy Author in a new Quarrel with Father Sabran a Jesuit and who is now grown more famous in the World from his New Antagonist the Protestant Footman who as we have before observed undertook the Defence of the Reverend Master of the Temple from such pitiful Cavils as indeed were not worth the while of the Learned Man himself to take notice of and are abundantly answer'd by his new and more proper Antagonist In his Sermon before the King at Chester this Jesuit told his Majesty and the Auditory that he follow'd the advice of St. Austin when he recommended himself to the Blessed Virgins Intercession and advised them to do the same And for this quotes his Thirty-fifth Sermon de Sanctis Upon this there began a hot Debate in Letters betwixt F. Sabran and the Answerer concerning this Authority of St. Austin and at last from a particular Passage rose up to a General Point of the Practice of the Primitive Church as to the Invocation of Saints The Pieces themselves may be consulted in this Order 1. A Letter to a Peer of the Church of England clearing a Point in a Sermon Preach'd at Chester in Answer to a Postscript joyned unto the Answer to Nubes Testium 2. A Letter to Father Lewis Sabran Jesuit in Answer to his Letter to a Peer of the Church of England c. 3. A Reply of Lewis Sabrand of the Society of Jesus to the Answer given to his Letter written to a Peer of the Church of England c. 4. A Second Letter to Father Lewis Sabran Jesuit in Answer to his Reply And here the Controversy about St. Austin's Sermon was either ended or dropt the Jesuit being now ferretted by the Second Letter out of all his starting holes But Mr. G. in his Primitive Fathers no Papists taking into Consideration a Challenge which the Jesuit had made him in one of his Letters about Invocation published an Historical Discourse to prove that Invocation of Saints was neither the Doctrine nor the Practice of the Primitive Fathers Upon this the Jesuit begun again after having taken a little breath and in a whole Sheet undertakes to answer that large Historical Account with this Title 5. The Challenge of Father Lewis Sabran made out against the Historical Discourse concerning Invocation of Saints To which Mr. G. very soon after replied in 6. A Third Letter to Father Lewis Sabrah Jesuit Wherein the Defence of his Challenge concerning Invocation of Saints is Examin'd and Confuted In this Letter Mr. G. made such Discoveries of the strange Disingenuity and confident Ignorance of the Jesuit that he was resolved to rid his Hands of such an Adversary as had neither Learning nor Good-manners and therefore told him in the Conclusion of his Letter that he would trouble himself no more with answering such an Adversary Upon this the Jesuit whose only stock is Confidence being turn'd off by his Learned Adversary was forc'd to address his next Reply to a Third Person and pitcht upon Mr. Needham because he had Licensed Mr. G's Third Letter to him and directed a Letter to him with this Title 7. A Letter to Dr. William Needham In Answer to the Third Letter by him Licensed Written to Father Lewis Sabran of the Society of Jesus To which Mr. G. did finally Reply in an Address to the Jesuit's Superiors and this it 's supposed will end this Controversy it is call'd 8. A Letter to the Superiors whether Bishops or Priests which approve or License the Popish Books in England particularly to those of the Jesuits Order concerning Lewis Sabrah a Jesuit And all these Engagements the first Answer to the Nubes Testium produced But tho we now quit our Author yet we must not therefore leave the Subject For about the same time that the former Answer appeared another Learned Person of our Church began to consider it by Parts in several Letters to a Person of Quality And the Account of which I will now give as far as the Pieces are come to my Knowledg The first that appeared was called 1. The Antiquity of the Protestant Religion With an Answer to Mr. Sclater 's Reasons and the Collections made by the Author of the Pamphlet intituled Nubes Testium In a Letter to a Person of Quality The first Part. The next he Entituled 2. The Antiquity of the Protestant Religion concerning Images With an Answer to the Collections made by the Author of the Pamphlet Intituled Nubes Testium In a Letter to a Person of Quality The 2d Part. What Notice has been taken of the former of these I am not able to say but the latter has produced us an Answer Entituled 3. A Discourse of the Use of Images in relation to the Church of England and the Church of Rome in Vindication