it tho the multitude of other Discourses that have since been published on this Subject may well excuse so small an Omission However since after almost a Years attendance there is now but little Hopes of any thing more to be expected from this Antagonist I may venture to promise the Reader that he shall not continue much longer without the Answer that has been prepared to what is already published and which might long since have been finished had not the Reverend Author desired to acquit himself of all his Task at the same time And this may serve in short to have been remarked concerning the first Part of this Design of the Discourses which our Divines began to publish in the late King's time upon the Points in Controversie between us and the Church of Rome We must now pass to a more troubled and perplex'd Undertaking and endeavour to reduce to the clearest Method we can those many Tracts that have since come out in Answer to one another on both sides and the number of which is now so great that it is no easie matter to give an exact Account of them And for the doing of this I shall consider them not in the Order of their coming out but reduce them as near as I can to the several distinct Subjects to which they refer Now the first Thing that began all our Late Disputes was the Pretence so much insisted upon of our MISREPRESENTING the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome And it shall therefore be the first kind of Discourses I will here consider SECT I. Of the Treatises that have been Publish'd on the Representing and Expounding Controversie I. WHAT the Occasion and Design of this Uundertaking was Present State p. 10. has already been remarked in the First Part of the Present State and therefore I shall not need to say any thing to it here The Treatises that have passed on both sides may be consulted in this following Order I. The Representing Controversie A Papist Misrepresented and Represented R. The Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome truly Represented in Answer to a Book intituled A Papist Misrepresented and Represented c. II. Reflections upon the Answer to the Papist Misrepresented c. R. A Papist not Misrepresented by Protestants being a Reply to the Reflections c. III. Papists protesting against Protestant Popery in Answer to a Discourse intituled A Papist not Misrepresented by Protestants R. An Answer to a Discourse intituled Papists protesting against Protestant Popery containing a particular Examination of Monsieur de Meaux 's late B. of Condom 's Exposition of the Doctrines of the Church of Rome in the Articles of the Invocation of Saints and Worship of Images IV. An Amicable Accommodation of the difference between the Representer and the Answerer in return to his last Reply R. An Answer to the Amicable Accommodation of the difference between the Representer and the Answerer V. A Reply to the Answer to the Amicable Accommodation R. A View of the whole Controversie between the Representer and the Answerer with an Answer to the Representer 's last Reply And here the matter rested when the first State of the Controversie was published and it was then generally believed would have done so But the Representer had by this time got too much assurance to be easily put out of Countenance and tho by the longer time he took in his Answer to this last Treatise than to either of the foregoing and which his Performance sufficiently shews was not for any extraordinary pains he resolved to take in his Reply to it he seems to have struggled a little with himself before he could get the better of his Conscience in going on at so pitiful a rate of Vindicating his pretences yet at last there came out something that was to be called an Answer to our last piece in a Preface to a further Continuation of his unjust Pretences against us viz. VI. The Papist Misrepresented and Represented 3d part with a Preface containing Reflections upon two Treatises the one the State the other The View of the Controversie between the Representer and the Answerer But to this too the worthy Author of the View of the Controversie soon returned such an Answer as I find has not a little discomposed the Representer and I believe no less troubles the Vindicator too of the Bishop of Condom's Exposition viz. R. An Answer to the Representer's Reflections upon the State and View of the Controversie c. To this the Representer has now satisfied us that he never intends to reply for having lately set out an Answer to another Discourse of which we shall speak hereafter viz. The Apology for the Pulpits he adds triumphantly in the Title that it is not only an Answer to that Discourse but also A Vindication of the Representer against the Stater of the Controversie But such a Vindication as this could certainly never have come from any other Pen but the Representer's and is by the same figure a Reply to this Treatise by which he heretofore told us that his Papist Represented and Misrepresented was enough to answer not only all our late Discourses against Popery Papist Misr part 3. Pref. but a great part of all the Books and Sermons that had ever been writ or preached against them The truth is I can hardly forbear here to leave a while my design of pursuing the Treatises that have been Published on this Controversie to expose the Confidence of this vain Man But since the worthy Author of that Book which he pretends to answer has thought fit to give him up as a Priviledged Person who is past either sense of Modesty or hopes of being reclaimed I shall pay that deference to his Judgment as not to trouble my self with any Vindication of his Discourse against so trivial and occasional an attempt against it But if there be any of this Author's Communion who shall think fit in good earnest to attack this or any other of those Discourses which he has published against them I will then take the liberty to promise That tho to our great regret the incomparable Author of them be now in his Grave Dr. Claget and no longer in a state to vindicate his own Works yet neither his Labours nor his Memory shall want a Defence and let his Adversaries whenever they please begin the experiment And here I suppose we may now take a final leave of this first Controversie The Papist Represented and Misrepresented I will only add That since this first attempt of his began he has carry'd it on in two other parts under the Title of the catholick Representer The second of which coming out weekly in several Chapters has received a very full and I suppose a satisfactory Answer there being no care taken to reply to what our Divines have with great care and learning return'd to it The third has been consider'd as far as was thought necessary by the
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
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
of Nubes Testium To which our Author has replied in 4. A Third Letter to a Person of Quality being a Vindication of the former in Answer to a late Pamphlet Intituled A Discourse of the Vse of Images And to that in pursuance of his First Design has lately added a Fourth which he calls 5. A Fourth Letter to a Person of Quality being an Historical Account of the Doctrine of the Sacrament from the Primitive times to the Council of Trent shewing the Novelty of Transubstantiation To conclude this Head I shall only add one General Discourse on this Subject which I have before mention'd and can never name too often viz. Of the Authority of Councils and the RULE of FAITH SECT VIII Of the Nature of Idolatry Having hitherto pursu'd the business of the Rule of Faith and the Treatises that have been publish'd on the Occasion of it we will now go on to the more special Examinations that have been made by both these Rules viz. Scripture and Tradition of the particular Points in debate betwixt us And because I have just now mention'd some such Examinations of the two great Rocks of offence to us The Worship of Images and the Invocation of Saints it may not be amiss first of all to see what has been further done upon these Arguments and the other instances of what we esteem The IDOLATRY of the Church of Rome THere is perhaps nothing in all our Disputes with those of the other Communion which they so unwillingly care to enter on as this They look upon the very Name of it to be a kind of Reproach to them and would be thought as heartily as we our selves can desire to detest the Guilt of it But yet 't is too evident to be deny'd that our Charge is very justly brought against them and by consequence that it ought not to be doubted but that our Separation from them must have been most reasonable if it can indeed be made appear as we are perswaded we have plainly shewn that we could not have continued in their Communion without joyning with them in the Practice of one of the greatest of Sins viz. Idolatry But before we come to the Particulars in which this Charge is brought against them it is fit we should first state the general Notion of IDOLATRY and this has been effectually done but very lately The Reverend the Bishop of Oxon having in a Treatise which he published for the abrogating of the Test and Penal Laws given us just occasion to do so This Book is so well known and the Answer to it was so lately published that I shall not need say any thing more of either but only add their Titles which are these viz. 1. Reasons for Abrogating the Test 2. A Discourse concerning the Nature of Idolatry In which a late Author's true and only notion of Idolatry is consider'd and Confuted I must not forget to observe also that the Bishop in his Tract pretending to give a new and very strange Account of the Romish Doctrine of Transubstantiation that part of his Book received two particular Considerations the one in the Preface to the Reverend Dean of Paul's Book Entituled The Council of Trent examined and disproved by Catholic Tradition The other in a Learned Discourse under this Title 3. Transubstantiation the Peculiar Doctrine of the Church of Rome I am told we owe this Book to a very ingenious Nonconformist and as we cannot but thank him for the Discourse he has given us so he deserves to be thanked for his design of answering the other part of the Bishop's Book about the Nature of Idolatry in which he was prevented as I am told by the other Discourse about the Nature of Idolatry coming out while that good design was under his hands I cannot but wish that our Brethren had begun sooner to assist us in such a large Controversie as we have been obliged to manage and that others amongst them would follow the Example which this Learned Author has so worthily set before them Another Writer hath given us a very ingenious short Answer to both parts of the Bishop's Book and calls it 4. A Discourse concerning Transubstantiation and Idolatry being an Answer to the Bishop of Oxford's Plea relating to those two Points As for the particular Instances wherein we make good this charge of Idolatry against them I have before mentioned that of the ADORATION of the HOST See above Page 6. 19. and the Discourses that have been published on that Argument The two Points remaining and of which something was said under the last Head are the WORSHIP of IMAGES and the INVOCATION of Saints I. Of the WORSHIP of IMAGES Upon which Point Of the Worship of Images besides the two Letters written in Answer to the Nubes Testium the following Discourses have also been set forth viz. 1. The Fallibility of the Roman Church demonstrated from the manifest Error of the second Nicene and Trent Councils which assert That the Veneration and Honorary Worship of Images is a Tradition Primitive and Apostolical 2. A Discourse concerning the second Council of Nice which first introduced and established Image-Worship in the Christian Church Anno Domini 787. For the other Point II. The INVOCATION of SAINTS Many Discourses have been Published and a full account given of this Matter and if we may judge by the slender Returns that have been made to them Of the Invocation of Saints little is to be said in Vindication of this Superstition The Treatises that I have seen are these that follow 1. Speculum B. Virginis A Discourse of the due Praise and Honour of the Virgin Mary 2. A Discourse concerning the Worship of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints with an Account of the Beginning and Rise of it among Christians in Answer to Monsieur de Meaux 's Appeal to the ivth Age in his Exposition and Pastoral Letter 3. Wholesom Advices from the B. Virgin to her indiscreet Worshippers This Piece was only a Translation which an Ingenious Lay-man of our Church put into English and set a large Preface before it To this the Catholic Representer gave an Attack in the 4th Chapter of his Second Part and thereby obliged our Author to make a smart Reply upon him called A Letter to the Misrepresenter of Papists 4. An Account of the Life and Death of the B. Virgin according to the Romish Writers with the Grounds of the Worship paid to her 5. The Life of S. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi a Carmelite Nun with a Preface of the Nature Causes Concomitants and Consequences of Extasie and Rapture and a brief Discourse added about discerning and trying Spirits whether they be of God. 6. An Abridgment of the Prerogatives of S. Ann Mother of the Mother of God. 7. The Enthusiasm of the Church of Rome demonstrated in some Observations upon the Life of Ignatius Loyola 8. The Virgin Mary Misrepresented by the Roman Church c. Part I. Wherein Two of her
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
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
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