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
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
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
Protestant Resolved Or a Discourse shewing the Unreasonableness of his turning Roman Catholic for salvation 19. A Discourse wherein is held forth the Opposition of the Doctrine Worship and Practices of the Roman Church to the Nature Designs and Characters of the Christian Faith. 20. Two short Discourses against the Romanists by Mr. Dodwell Cambden Professor in the University of Oxford 21. An Answer to a Discourse concerning the Celibacy of the Clergy printed at Oxford 22. A Letter to a Lady furnishing Her with Scripture Testimonies against the principal Points and Doctrines of Popery In return to the last of these Discourses Father Darrell the Jesuit has been pleased to set out a Single Half Sheet which he calls A Letter to a Lady wherein he desires a Conference with the Gentleman who writ Her that Letter This is indeed a new way of answering Books and becoming the busie assuming spirit of that Society One would wonder after so little Success as they have hitherto met with in these Encounters what should move this Reverend Father to be so forward to come into the same List with Goodwin Pulton and a few others of the same Character For tho abundance of Noise in a Conference and of Misrepresentation after may help out a weak Cause and an Illiterate Defender of it when they are sure before-hand of the person for whose sake it is held yet methinks they should be more wary than to run upon such Hazards where in all probability they are not like either to gain their Proselyte or to have the opportunity of these kind of Subterfuges to assist them However tho I have neither the Honour to know the Lady or the Author of that Letter yet for this good Father's satisfaction I will venture for once to promise him That if her Ladyship does desire it not only the Author of that Letter will be ready to meet him but to shew how willing we are to encourage a hopeful Design let him chuse his Gownman between Blackwall and Hide-park Corner and I dare say there is not one among them all that on this or any other occasion will decline to shew him how little reason he has for his forwardness I am now hastning to an End of this Vndertaking and I think I cannot better finish it than with a short Account of a Controversie which made no small Noise in the World between the Reverend Dr. Tenison and Father Pulton the Jesuit About Michaelmas last they met at a House in Long-Acre on the acount of a Boy whom Mr. Pulton had perverted from our Religion Great things were presently talked as usual on such occasions concerning this Conference and the Papists fail'd not to boast of a mighty Conquest made over the Doctor This forced him to resolve on a Publication of what passed tho otherwise as little fit as designed to be communicated to the world Each Party set forth his own Account and first Mr. Pulton his in two Books called 1. A true Account of the Conference c. 2. A true and full Account of a Conference held about Religion between Dr. Thomas Tenison and A. Pulton one of the Masters in the Savoy Dr. Tenison's was Entituled 3. A true account of a Conference held about Religion at London Sept. 29. 1687. between A. Pulton Jesuit and Thomas Tenison D. D. This was followed on the Jesuit's part with a new Discourse called 4. Remarks of A. Pulton upon Dr. Thomas Tenison 's late Narrative with a Confutation of the Doctor 's Rule of Faith and Reply to A. Cressener 's pretended Vindication To which Dr. Tenison reply'd in a second Treatise viz. 5. Mr. Pulton consider'd c. And this produced another Discourse from another hand viz. Mr. Meredith who was present at the Conference called 6. Some farther Remarks on the late Account given by Dr. Tenison of his Conference with Mr. Pulton As for what is added in Mr. Pulton's 3d. Treatise in Answer to A. Cressener the meaning of it is this Mr. Cressener a Schoolmaster being present at the Conference Mr. Pulton in his account of it gave him some occasion to complain of his Relation as to that part of it which concerned him and therefore to justifie himself he published a short Treatise to which Mr. Pulton there refers viz. 7. The Vindication of A. Cressener Schoolmaster in Long-Acre from the aspersions of A. Pulton Jesuit and Schoolmaster in the Savoy And thus this Controversie ended but yet I must not leave it till I have taken notice of another that it begat and that no less memorable than the foregoing For upon the occasion of this Conference a Paper was taken notice of much used by the puny Controvertists of our days called 1. Speculum Ecclesiasticum Or an Ecclesiastical Prospective Glass Written as we are told by a Souldier of that Party T. Ward and to which Dr. Tenison procured a young Man a Friend of his to write an Answer which he did Entituled 2. The Speculum Ecclesiasticum consider'd in its false Reasonings and Quotations But before this was published the Doctor obtained a Copy of a Defence which the Soldier had prepared of his Quotations but was not yet come from the Press and to finish all at once an Answer was set forth to that too at the same time ere it could appear abroad in the world This the Soldier resented and expressed his sense of it in a Letter to Dr. Tenison which together with a Reply to it were published under the Title of 3. An Answer to the Letter of the Catholic Souldier in a Letter from C. D. to A. B. the Examiner of his Speculum However not long after the Defence was publish'd with a dreadful Name viz. 4. Monomachia Or A Duel Between Dr. Thomas Tenison Pastor of St. Martins and a Roman Catholic Souldier And so I think this worthy Controversie ended SECT XI Having now run through the several Heads of Controversy that have of late exercised the Pens of our Learned Men in Defence of our Religion it may not be amiss to stop here awhile and by a brief Recapitulation of the Whole see what more remains to a compleat Vindication of our Selves against all the Tricks and Artifices as well as against the Arguments of our Adversaries IT is sufficiently evident from the foregoing Collection what slender Returns those of the Church of Rome have made to the many excellent Discourses which themselves without any provocation of ours have extorted from us And what prejudice they have hereby done to their Religion I am confident they themselves are not unsensible I need not say what a Number of Disputes they have altogether let fall how many of our Books to this day remain Vn-answered and are ever likely to be so In a word what Trifles many times they have set forth under the arrogant Title of FULL ANSWERS to those they have thought fit to take Notice of And now at last to compleat all they seem to have utterly deserted the