their party to utmost danger Now in my Answer to this unknown Author I think I have not I am sure I intended not to give just offence to him or any other English Protestant 66. Yet this is the only Treatise against which a most Noble Friend besides a general reprehension instanced in a special passage which he thought fit to be sharply censured and this passage was my naming it The late Church of England Now surely Sir none who know me can judge me so utterly void of Humanity or Reason as to think that I meant this expression in a sense of insulting or of contentment in seeing a Church of which all the Friends I then had were members as I then verily thought destroyed by cruel Sectaries the little finger of whose Governours would be heavier to poor Catholicks than the loins of the former State 67. I must therefore acknowledge that at the time of writing that short Treatise I did and who almost did not despair of ever seeing a restauration of the Church of England to its former splendour though many were not out of all hope considering an impossibility of a constant union among those Sects that his Majesty might happily return I well remember that in France attending a certain Noble Person of very high Condition and special trust near his Majesty I once in discoursing ask'd him this Question Whether he thâ—ught not that it was in his power to have hindred the restoring of the English Hierarchy to which after considering a while he answered He thought it was â— Whereto I replied Alas my Lord how dare you adventure yâ—ur soul for all eternity in a Church which your self could have destroyed Thereupon he entred into a Discourse touching the nature of a Church of which he concluded I had a wrong Notion 68. But as for his first Answer I believe there was scarce any one who then doubted but that a small power would be of force enough to hinder the reviving of the Church of England yea most men thought that even his Majesty with all his interest and endeavours could not have been able to have effected it considering that all Sects though in other regards disunited yet unanimously conspired to the destruction of Episcopacy Therefore it argued more than heroical magnanimity and zeal also in his Majesties attempting and executing such a design from which such an incredible number of then not quite-unarmed Opponents could not deter him though also thereby he obstructed the flowing into his Exchequer whole Rivers of rich spoils belonging to the Clergy And truly in both these râ—gards it ought to be acknowledged by all English Protestants that the said Noble Person being then the most inward Counsellor to his Majesty shewed himself of proof both against fearâ— and avarice since no doubt a considerable advantage might have fallen to his share likewise in those spoils These things therefore considered I humbly conceive that the forementioned phrase The late Church of England spoken at such a time did not merit an extraordinary Censure considering also that as a particular Church and of such a peculiar fabrick it cannot appropriate to it self an Indefectibility or challenge share in the Promise of Christ that the gates of Hell shall nâ—t prevail against it 69. The next Book was the Answer to Dr. Pierce his Sermon In which I never heard any thing challenged as disrespectful to the English Clergy excepting one line for which my worthy Friend Dr. Earles then Dean of Westminster gave me a friendly chiding though to say the truth it was in his Wifes quarrel who was much offended with it and I confess with some reason And besides this there was one passage in it at which I my self have been much displeased which is the very first leaf in the Book To which also doubtless I had regard when in conversing with the Protestant Expostulator before-mentioned I complained of injuries done me being absent in the printng of my Books For having left the said Answer with a friend in London who undertook the care of the Impression certain Friends of his thinking I had begun the Answer too abruptly they willing to be in aliâ—no libro ingeniosi framed an entrance into the Book full of taunting and contempt against the Author of the Sermon And having sent me enclosed in a Letter the first sheet I was moved with such indignation and shame at the reading of it that I protested unless that entrance were taken away I would in a printed paper publickly disavow the work For besides my natural abhorring of uncivil language especially in Controversies about Religion I judged that a Writer did himself wrong who first having contemned and undervalued a Book yet thought it necessary to be seriously answered Upon my resentment of this injury done me the Authors of that Preface abolished the first leaf but wanting matter to fill up the void space they qualified much the former uncivil language leaving it as it now appears I took the greater care not to give too much offence no the learned Preacher because I had been informed by some of his inward Friends that it was with great unwillingness and out of necessary obedience to one who had right to command him that in a time when a persecution was renewed against Catholicks he took such a subject for his Sermon at Court. And indeed his unwillingness to pursue such a quarrel gives testimony hereto though it is well known that he is not inferiour to Dr. Stillingfleet either in learning language or any abilities to manage a Controversie to the best advantage And I assure youâ— Sir it is a great comfort and satisfaction to poor Catholicks that since they must be persecuted their Persecutors have not been any English Protestants of the ancient stamp but a new adopted race who it seems cannot forget that Catholicks have declared themselves Enemies to the Masters under whom our new Convertists have been bred 70. One Book yet remains and but one which I am concern'd at least to excuse iâ— not to justifiâ— to be free from this crime of reproaching or reviling the English Church For I suppose my Sâ—ncta Sophia and likewise my Reflections on the two Oaths are out of all suspicion at least of this fault That Book is a short Answer to a short Pamphlet published by Mr. Edward Bagshaw a too well known troublesome Sectary in which he undertook to give a deaths-blow to the Infallibity of the Catholick Church But the weapons used by him were so blunt and the arm which wielded them so weak that the stroke was not at all felt The only Motive therefore inducing me to publish an Answer to so unskilful a Controvertist was to discover his ignorant mistaking of the Point controverted and especially his malice against Catholicks which therefore deserved to be apprehended by us because to the disgrace of the Church of England he writes in a stiâ—e as if he would make the world believe that he had a
seen how far the Catholick Clergies Iurisdiction reaches and how little jealousie it gives to other great Kings exceedingly tender of their Royal Authority And in case I were condemned I should say within my self The Iudge who has according to the Laws condemned me for a supposed Crime called of late Treason in England and no where else in the World being forced to pronounce the sentence of Death against me upon the verdict of a dozen silly ignorant Mechanicks or Peasants yet I verily believe he knows or might know very well that the same sentence was as justly that is very unjustly pronounced by Nero Domitian Dioclecian c. Roman Emperours against the Apostles and their Successours S. Ignatius S. Policarp S. Cyprian c. For all these and hundreds more such assumed and exercised a far greater Spiritual Iurisdiction in their judgment doubtless without any wrong to Princes For they administred Sacraments congregated Churches prâ—ached and converted yea empower'd others to preach and convert thousands to a Religion expresly contrary to and by many Sanguinary Laws condemned in all the Countries where they travelled yet â—e esteems them glorious Martyrs and me an infamous Traytor Deo gratias ¶ 5. Reviling Reproaches of the Church and Clergy of England objected against me 53. ANother heavy Charge against me often repeated with great Indignation by you Noble Sir is as you term it My defying the Laws of the Kingdâ—m traducing the Government treating the Bishopsâ— and the Reverend Clergy and the Christian Religion that is estâ—blished there by Law and all the Profâ—ssors of it with those scoffs and derision and contempt as if they weâ—e Turks and Pagans c. Further by pretending to prâ—ve that the very nature and essence of the English Church it self and its Religion is pure putid Fanaticism In a word I am accused of a constant reviling and malice towards the Church in which I received my Baptism Now the guilt of this crime you extend to all the Books published by me The least faulty in your opinion was my first stiled Exomologesis but that also in a second Edition was enlarged you say with additions â—specially of reproaches against the Church of England and virulent Expressions against the Clergy of that Church 54. Sir I should despair of being able to make any tolerable Apology for my self against this heinous imputation but that I hope you will think it just that I should divide my Plea which regards my last Book against Doctor Stillingfleet from all the rest Now an account of the necessity of making such a Separation and the reasonableness of it I will not long defer 55. First then touching my Exomologesis take whether Impression of it you please excepting one most highly honoured Friend whose Name I must take leave to conceal you are the only person who has condemned me for my acrimony in it yet without selecting any detâ—rminate guilty passage in it I had many other Friends of the Protestant Clergy whose friendship and kindness to me never received the least abatement upon that account on the contrary they comparing my stile with that of several other Catholick Controvertists expressed their satisfaction in my moderation I will only name two very knowing and in a singular manner intimate Friendsâ— the first is Doctor Earles lately Lord Bishop of Salisbury all the tender effects of whose friendshipâ— I may add of his bounty also I enjoyed till God took him away a person certainly of the sweetest most obliging nature that lived in our Aâ—e 56. The second whom I may securely name bâ—cause he is also dead for out of due respect to some worthy Prelates alive I must â—â—me them only in my Prayers is Doctor Hammond To whom I being at Paris caused my Exomologesis as soon as printed to be sent and presented He in a short kind Letter gave me thanks and without the least exception against the stile gave this judgment of it That an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that was his expression did privily run through the whole contexture of the Book He did not further interpret wherein that fallacy confâ—ted But added We are Friends and I do not purpose to be your Antagonist Alas how happy had we been if Catholick Religion since it must be opposed had been combated only by such Antagonists as he was Indâ—ed it would cause not only wonder but indignation in any ingenuous man to see such a person as Doctor Hammond treated with scorn contempt and virulence 57. One clause more there was in Doctor Hammond's Letter which I judge expedient to add partly in gratitude to his memory and also upon occasion of your telling the world that it was not devotion but necessity and a want of subsistence which drove me first out of the Church of England and then into a Monastery He at the end of his Letter kindly invited me into England assuring me I should be provided of a convenient place to dwell in and a sufficient subsistence to live comfortably and withal that not any one should molest me about my Religion and Conscience I had reason to believe that this invitation was an effect of a cordial friendship and I was also informed that he was well enabled to make good his promise as having the disposal of great Charities and being the most zealous Promoter of Alms-giving that lived in England since the Change of Religion Yet rendring such thanks as gratitude required of me I told him that I could not accept of so very kind an offer being engaged almost by vow to leave all pretensions to the world and to embrace poverty for my portion Now besides such a Friend as this I had many more several near His Majesty among whom one especially there was of the highest rank to whom formerly upon the Rebellion in Ireland I being destitute of a present subsistence must acknowledge all gratitude due for by his care alone I was provided of a condition both honourable and comfortable So that if I had lost all other Friends I had reason to assure my self he would have freely contributed rather than extremity of want should have forced me to quit the world Moreover at the same time I received great Testimonies of favour from Her late Gracious Majesty the Queen-Mother of happy memory an indifferent Recommendation from whom to the Court of France could not fail to have procured me a convenient subsistence But truly I never sollicited her or any other for such Liberality True it is that meerly of her own accord she was pleased at my leaving Paris to assign me an hundred Crowns to furnish me in my journey towards a Monastery But this by the way 58. Whereas Sir you affirm that in the second Edition of my Exâ—mologesis there are many Additions especially of reproaches against the Church of England c. And moreover that to a person expostulating with me Why I left out the Protestation of Obedience and a Discourse touching
Commission from the Protestant Clergy to be their common Advocate and in their names to vent his own impotent malice for throughout the whole Book he shâ—ws himself exceeding zealous to defend forsooth the Protestant Church of England and not his own miserable Sect against the Papists Now who could restrain indignation hearing such an one crying out aloud We apples swim This short Treatise of mine therefore at least I believe will escape your Censure 71. These are the Books Honoured Sir which I judged reasonable and requisite to be ranged in a rank divided from that which was written against Dr. Stillingfleet In all which a Controversie in several Points being debated against the Doctrines of the Church of England I could not without shewing my self a Prevaricatour abstain from imputing Errors to Protestants and shewing the â—ll consequences of such errors but it was never my intention to give any scope to unseemly passions against persons from none of whom I had received any injuries but on the contrary from many of the most considerable among them not a few signal obligations If now and then an unwary phrase has drop'd from my pen and I am sure there are not many such I shall be far from justifying them but on the contrary I here publickly revoke them And for the future I dare challenge even Dr. Stillingfleet himself to try his skill upon me whether by any contempt either of my Person or Writings he can force me to answer in a language which shall need such another Apology Some worthy friends â—old me that there was at this time a necessity I should endeavour to excuse my self from acknowledging the justice of all your severe sentences against me considering that others also were wounded by them But certainly one Apology against personal imputations will be sufficient and God willing I shall spend my declining days more to the profit of my soul by silence and patiently suffering injuries though silence should be interpreted a confusion of guiltâ— then by composing with great loss of precious time and publishing Books regarding the qualities of persons which Books are scarce ever half so long-liv'd as a yearly Almanack and which serve only to increase the uncharitableness and injustice of this present age in which men will be sure to censure all Books and Persons and are indifferent whether they condemn the Plaintiff or Defendant or both ¶ 6. There was no intention of Reviling the Church of England in my Book against D. Stillingfleet 72. NOW I come to the fatal Book against Dr. Stillingfleet touching Fanaticism which forced you Sir to open a passage to all your indignation against me for my reviling reproaches against the Church and Clergy of England I fear now that no excuse of so great a crime will be admitted by you and that to pretend to justifie my self would be taken for an affront Yet Sir truth is bold and I dare pretend not only to justifie my intention and manner of writing in such a stile but my hope also that the said Book would deserve to be favourably accepted by the English Clergy 73. Now the ground of my justification is a firm perswasion that the present Church of England is the very same that it was when both of us received our Baptism in it by which Baptism we became Members under favour not of the Church of England but of that Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church of the belief of which our God-fathers and God-mothers made a publick Profession for us 74. This perswasion therefore remaining still the same I do confidently affirm and I protest my intention to have been that not any of those sharp phrases and Invectives ought with any justice to be interpreted as meant against the Church of England or the the Doctrines and Discipline of it established by Law but only against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church which he desires indeed should pass for the Church of England but which really is removed from it at a greater distance and opposition than is the Church of Geneva And to demonstrute this it will be sufficient to take a prospect first of the fabrick of Dr. Stillingfleet's English Church framed by himself upon Mr. Chillingworth's Authority and next of the Church of England established by Law as she represents her self in her Articles of Religion and Ecclesiastical Constitutions 75. First then Dr. Stillingfleet has made his Church perfectly visible throughout even from its very foundations or Principles of which the two most considerable and which involve all the rest are the thirteenth and the fifteenth The words are these Such a particular way of Revelation being made choice of by God for the means of making known his wâ—ll in order to the happiness of mankind as writing we may justly say that it is repugnant to the nature of the Design and the Wisdâ—m and Goodness of God to give infallible assurance to persâ—ns in writing his will for the benefit of mankind if those Writings may not be understood by all persons who sincerely endeavour to know the meaning of them in all such things as are necessary for their salvation And consequently There can be no necessity supposed of any infallible Society of men either to attestâ— or explain those Writings among Christians 76. Is such a Church as this Honoured Sir securely grounded Can you think it a crime in anâ— rational man to call this Church fanatical But why do I talk of a Church In all the Doctors Principles there is no mention of any Church at all as a Teacher or Interpreterâ— not the least regard had to such needless persons as Teachers or Governours Bishops or Presbyters All are sheep without shepherds or shepherds without sheep There is nothing to be found I mean for his sort of Protestants but a Book which all must read though they cannot read and in it find the way to heaven a thing so easie in the Doctor 's opinion that even the blindest man cannot miss it so he will consult that Book But I must recal my word The Doctor indeed does mention a Church or Society and that an infallible one but it is only mentioned to be rejected Now certainly if he rereject that Church which if any Church can have any obliging Authority may challenge the greatest on earth he will much more reject any inferiour Authority or Church Yet since he will take it ill if we do not call an Assembly of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Church please to consider that in this Church every man the most ignorant and stupid must by his own light know first that God has left his whole will touching his salvation in Writing 2. That this Writing comprehendeth thirty eight Books given by God to the Iews and twenty to Christians 3. All these Books this ignorant man must by his own light still know to be both safely conveyed and truly translated though he be not able to read either the Original or Translation 4. He must out of