Selected quad for the lemma: order_n
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A42255
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An answer to Mr. Lowth's letter to Dr. Stillingfleet in another letter to a friend.
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Grove, Robert, 1634-1696.
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1687
(1687)
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Wing G2147; ESTC R31522
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34,417
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38
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the beginning of his Letter he very Complementally Rejoyces and thanks him for it No man more But that was suddainly slipt out of his mind therefore I will take the liberty to refresh his Pag. 3. Memory with a passage or two which will clear the matter we are now upon And besides the general Scope of a great part of the Discourse in one place he delivers his mind thus That the Bishops did succeed Dr. Stillingfleet's Serm. p. 30. the Apostles we have the general consent of the Antient Fathers who were the most competent Witnesses in this Case which is an Argument they believed the Apostolical Power with respect to the Government of Churches did not expire with the Apostles but was to continue as long as Christ had promised to be with them i. e. to the end of the World. And afterwards again Our Church hath wisely and truly determined that since the Apostles times there have been three Orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons and then he adds and in a regular well constituted Church are to Continue Ib. Pa. 38. to the World's end These are as full declarations of his Judgement concerning the Perpetuity and immutability of Episcopacy as can be desired unless Mr. Lowth should conceit that the Church Triumphant is governed by Bishops and may hope to be made one in the other world But how the overlooking of these and many things else and insisting still upon the old accusation as if it had not been clearly answered can comport with his Design of Truth and Honesty is worth the inquiry I leave it to your thoughts and hope I have made it plainly appear that the Dean has given very good satisfaction for all the Errours and Mistakes that have been laid to his charge This Letter is grown longer than I intended when I began it and yet I have taken some pains to contract it For if I had followed Mr. Lowth in all his Rambles and remarked every thing that was really exceptionable it would have been five times the length and must have been Read by you with as little pleasure as his was I have dealt with him as tenderly as I could and if I have said any thing that may seem severe it has been extorted by his unsufferable Rudeness to a better Man. Look upon his Letter once more and you will readily excuse the hardest word I have given him He takes care to let the World know that his first Book was the Result of the Course of his Subject Church Power Pref. Studies and so it might but this can be the Result of nothing but Anger and want of Consideration and an inveterate kindness for his Adversary For there is not any thing in it clearly proved but an untractable crossness and an impotent desire to be Cavilling at every thing the Dean can write Of this we have had many evidences already and you may expect more when you shall have the happiness to see another choice Piece with which he is sometimes threatning the Reader For he seems resolved to signalize himself for ever by still Renewing his bold Attempts upon the Dean of St. Pauls That he should have the Ambition I do not wonder but what should give him the Confidence I cannot certainly tell only I conjecture there is one thing may have done him some harm and put him upon enterprizing above his strength You know he pretends to have been very Conversant in some of the best Authors and his Industry for ought I know might have been commendable enough but then as 't is probable associating himself often with some that had little or no skill in that way among whom he might safely swagger with the great Names of Bishops Doctors and Fathers of the Church Ib. Catholick the Church Historians Councils and Laws Imperial c. and they stand all amazed and stare upon him and take him for nothing less than a perfect Oracle of Antiquity And as most men are apt to think well of themselves this might increase the conceit of his own Learning and make him presume so far as to Judge himselfan over-match for the Dean and there upon write to him with as much assurance as if he had been dictating to his ignorant Admirers over a Dish of Coffee He had been so used to give Law to his Companions that he imagined all the World would have held their Peace and gaped at him as they were Wont But he was very much deceived the Generality of men had quite another sense of Things they were something startled with the first but they were out of all patience at the incomparable Rudeness of this second Attack I am affraid I may incur his displeasure by the freedom I have taken to remind him of it but I deserve his Thanks for indeavouring to make him sensible of those faults for which he stands condemned by all the World. For I am confident there is not so much as a Remnant of that little Party which was once carefully fomented against the Dean and some others about Cosmus Blene now remaining 't is very likely they have all deserted For sure they could not be so very Weak but that they must plainly see that their mighty Champion has been able to do just nothing at last afte all his Hussing and Blustering for the Cause You cannot esteem any Expression I have used too harsh when you reflect upon the Contempt and incivility with which the Dean has been treated neither will you think any thing I have written too Light and Ludicrous when you consider that meer Indignation may provoke a man to Laugh A Person that has been most eminently seviceable to the Church is a Publick concern and his Reputation ought not to be blasted by every indiscreet and passionate Writer How Mr. Lowth will answer to his own Conscience this bold and repeated attempting to defame the Dean at this time upon false and frivolous pretences I do not know If he make an acknowledgement for the Injury by a Recantation as Publick as the Error Scandal and Offence he will do like an Honest Man but if he resolve to write on still to exercise his Style or to discharge a little more of his Choler he may please himself But unless he have something more material to say than he has yet offer'd all true Lovers of Learning and the Church of England will always continue upon the Dean's side I am SIR Your Humble Servant March the 10 th 1686 / 7. FINIS