all these Books be sure not to miss in collecting all the Texts containing Doctrines necessary to his salvation 5. And likewise he must be assured by his own light that he conceives the true sence of all these Texts though he know that there are great quarrels among learned and pious men about the sense of those Texts 6. For he must be obliged to believe that there is not on earth any either Person or Society infallible to which he can be bound in Conscience to submit his judgment or commit the care of his Soul 7. Lastly He must have so firm a memory as to be able to reject Roman Doctrines because not contained in Scripture This is Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England and so firm is the Rock upon which it is grounde 77. Now whether that Church of England wherein we were Christned and when we were Christned relied upon such a Foundation as this may quickly be discovered by reading only her Twentieth Article which begins thus The Church of England surely hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith By the Church here she must needs mean the Governours or Pastours and authorized Teachers of the Church of England for none else meddle in prescribing Ceremonies or determining Controversies of Faith And these saith she have Authority that is no doubt in her meaning not an usurped but lawful Authority And if so then she intends that all her Subjects and Disciples should esteem themselves obliged in Conscience to submit to her Decisions both about Ceremonies and Controversies This submission if any of her Subjects interpret to be only external or to imply no more than not openly refusing Ceremonies or opposing Decisions she will not be contented with it This appears plainly in her Constitutions Established and Published by Regal Authority under the Great Seal of England For from the second Constitution to the tenth all Impugners of the King's Supremacy or that affirm that the Church of England is not a true and Apostolical Church Likewise all Impugners of her Articles of Religion of her Ceremonies of her Government by Bishops of the Form of Ordinations Moreover all Authors of Schisms and Maintainers of Schismaticks all these are denounced Excommunicated ipso facto from which Excommunication they cannot be absolved and restored till after they have repented and publickly revoked such their wicked Errours that is they must acknowledge themselves to have been in an Errour a wicked Errour of which they must repent and publickly revoke it 78. This Authority therefore challenged by the Church of England Established by Law â— is manifestly an Authority over the Souls the Judgment and Belief of her Subjects which Authority Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England does expresly renounce Therefore his is a meer imaginary Church which has no subsistence but only in the fancies of a new brood of men which appeared not in England till Mr. Chillingworth's Book came forth And of such a Church Mr. Chilingworth stood in need because he thought he could with more ease to himself defend Dr. Potter against his Adversary F. Knott by depriving the Church of England of her Authority and laying new Principles of a Church the same which Dr. Stillingfleet has borrowed and artificially spread out and which are greedily embraced by our Young Divines because they reduce the main Dispute between Catholicks and Protestants to an exercise of wit and fancy about Adjectives and Participles ending in bilis and dus and ease them of the same tedious labour of reaâ—ing and citing Fathers and Councils which former learned Controvertists Bishops and Doctors thought necessary to undergo 79. Now the reason why the Church of England assumes an Authority obliging her Subjects to a submission of judgment as well as to external Conformity which other Sects cannot without a shameless impudence pretend to and yet do most tyrannically usurp seems to me to this Because she does not look upon her self to be a new-erected Church but as remaining still a Member of the Catholick Church govern'd by Pastours endowed with Authority received thence and continuing in a Lineal Succession from St. Peter And as supposed a true Member of the Catholick â—hurch her Clergy National or Provincial to have right according to frequent practise in the Ancient Church to call Synods and therein reform Discipline and extirpate such Doctrines as they judge erroneous how far spread soever they may be yet in doing this with the peaceable Spirit of St. Cyprian as to other Churches Neminem judicantes aut à jure Communionis aliquem si diversum senserit amoventes whereby they conclude themselves free from the guilt of Schism Neither yet do they assume to themselves an absolute Infallibility in their Ordinances and Decisions but as your self Sir have intimated in your second Question at the end of your Book assuring themselves that as long as they remain true Members of the Catholick Church they have this kind or degree of Infallibility that they cannot fall into Errours excluding Salvation and thereupon they judge they may oblige their Subjects to a submission of judgment and excommunicate Dissenters since no danger can follow in case it should happen to be an errour to the belief whereof they submit especially considering their constant Profession that they will all conform to the Determinations of a true free and legal General Councill 80. Such a Notion I conceive all English Protestants had of the Church of England and her Authority till Mr. Chillingworth published his Book Upon such grounds I am sure our late worthy and learned Friend Dr. Steward thought he could sufficiently justifie the Church of England against the Roman Catholick Church her imputing Heresie or Schism to Protestants And on the same grounds did the most learned among Protestant Bishops proceed in their Controversies for can you think Sir that Bishop Andrews Bilson Montague Laud Morton c. ever entertained a thought that all Christians whatsoever may with their own Light both find all points of necessary belief in the Scriptures and also comprehend the true sence of them and that not a Soul in England was obliged to believe a word of the Doctrine established 81. Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England therefore seems to me so far from being that Church which has been Established by Law that it is the most irrational Church that ever was The Church of Geneva or Holland or other Calvinists though grounded on this most presumptuous Principle That they judge of Scripture and its sence only by an internal infallible Light of God's Spirit yet that being once supposed they proceed rationally thereon when they oblige all their Subjects to submit their judgments to the Teachings of those respective Churches or to their Synods of Gapâ— Dortâ— c. Whereas Dr. Stillingfleet exempting all persons from an Obligation of yielding an internal Assent to any Decisions made by Superiours dissolves the very nature of a Church and deposes all Superiours 82. But
he had been commissionated by my Lords the Bishops to defend the substantial Doctrine of the Church of England after so cruel a manner and to justifie that her discession from the Roman Church was of absolute necessity by reason of the manifold horrible Idolatries taught and practised in her which I am confident will never be averred by Protestants 16. For what the judgment of the Church of England is in this matter we may irrefragably collect from the Censures Synodically given by her in all those points of Roman Doctrine on which the Doctor grounds his charge of Idolatry against Catholicks to wit The worship of God by Images The formal Invocation of Saints and the Adoration forsooth of Bread in the Eucharist 17. Now as touching the two first of these pretended grounds I beseech you Sir to consider how the Church of England in her establisht Doctrine has express'd her sense in the 22. Article These are the words The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons Worshiping and Adoration as well of Images as of Relicks and also Invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly invented and grounded on no warranty of Scrâ—pture but rather repugnant to the Word of God 18. And this observation your self has as becomâ—s an unpassionate English Protâ—stant made where speaking of Purgatory you ingenuously profess That if you thought your Prayers or any thing else you could do could be helpful to the souls of your friends or your enemies you would pour them out with all your heart and should not fear any reprehension from the Church of England which hath declared no judgment in the point except it be comprehended in the Article of Purgatory and then the censure is no more then that it is a fond thing which in that case you would be content to undergo This you declare and upon the same grounds since in the same Article no worse a Title and Character is given to other Romish Doctrines as Pardons Worshiping of Images and Relicks and also Invocation of Saints Therefore certainly you cannot approve the Doctors attributing Idolatry to such Doctrines or Practices 19. In the next place be pleased to observe what the Church of England declares touching that which Dr. Stillingflâ—et for an odious purpose terms The Adoration of Bread in the Eucharist in her 28th Article Transubstantiation or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord cannot be proved by holy writ but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasiâ—n to many superstitions The Body of Christ is given taken and eaten in the Supper only after an heavenly and spiritual manner And the means whereby the Body of â—hrist is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved car ried about lifted up or worshipped 20. You here see honoured Sir the Censure far unlike the Doctors which the Church of England has given of the Dâ—ctrines of the Roman Church touching the Holy Eucharist which Censure you likewise as before will not think fit to exceedâ— she terms them respectively fond vainly invented such as cannot be proved by Scripture but are rather repugnant to the same She doth not so much as stile any of them Superstitious but only giving occasion to many Superstitions Thus far and no farther does she condemn them and I suppose so many grave learned and wise Prelates as joyned in the compiling these Articles and many more who afterwards in several Synods reviewed and without any considerable change confirmed them were as quick sighted to discover faults and as able to proportionate a Censure of them as Dr. Stillingfleet who with all his skill is but a Neophyte in the English Church Therefore it is evident that it was not by the Church of England's warranty and also that it was not the dictamen of calm reason but an uncharitable passion against his neighbours and brethren who never had offended him that incited him so cruelly to expose them to the publick hatred and to the utmost effects of that hatred 21. Perhaps he will say that he is warranted to charge the Roman Catholick Church with Idolatry by the example of several other grave and learned Protestants members of the English Church though I believe he will scarce grant that any before him has prosecuted that charge with such a killing Rhetorick or in a time so seasonable for mischief 22. All this indeed he may truly say And among his Patterns he may if he please reckon some more than Members even Fathers Teachers and Governours of the English Church I mean Bishops and Archbishops who have done the like or in some respect worse for some of them not content to accuse the Catholick Church of Idolatry have written volumes to make the simple believe that the Chief Vniversal Pastor of the Catholick Church is God bless us the very Antichrist 23. This he may say But withal the most sober learned and judicious of the Church of England will tell him that the uncharitable Calvinistical spirit by which those Bishops and Archbishops were agitated did so bâ—ind them that they did not see or perhaps did not care what ruine they brought on their own Order Character and Chuâ—ch by such their intemperate writing and prâ—aching which to Catholicks seemed only noysome words but to the Church of England proved swords piercing into its very bowel For if the Roman Church both taught and practised horrible Idolatry and if the Pope were indeed Antichrist then the Hierarchy of England is ipso facto â— null or worse then the late rebellious Parliament had just reason to destroy them root and branch as persons who pretended a Mission and exercised a jurisdiction publickly acknowledged by themselves to have been received from abominable Idolaters yea even from Antichrist himself And certain it is that those few Presbyterian Bishops and Doctors gave both courage and weapons to the busie factious then call'd Puritan party to wound the Church of England more mortally than without such helps they possibly could have done 24. Methinks therefore honoured Sir my resentment of Dr. Stillingfleet's manner of proceeding in this point was not so criminal that it should so highly incense you as to excite you to a vindication of his honour with so much trouble to your self and so much danger to us since I can withal truly protest tht although you are pleased to stile me a Reviler of the Cburch of England it was a regard to her that hâ—d some influence on me to sharpen my stile And this the rather you may believe because as an English Catholick it concerns us both as to our quiet and safety to lie at the mercy of a Church orderly established and which acknowledges so merciful a King for Head rather than to be exposed to the fury of Calvinism 25. Moreover Dr. Stillingfleet has seemed not to content himself by
in opposition to this you say Sir That it is a proof that Dr. Stillingfleet ' s Principles are not destructive to the Authority of the Church of England because the Presbyterians Anabaptists or Independents those enemies of hers who have been so vigilant and industrious so many years to make her totter have not made use of the said Principles nor so much as taken notice of them Hereto I answer They have not made use of them against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England because they are not Fools For though they may seem to have a great advantage against him by saying besides their acknowledgement of the evidence of Scripture in necessaries That it would be madness in them to leave God's Spirit their own infallible Interpreter of Scripture in other points also for his fallible common Reason which is not able to give assurance even in natural things as whether the Earth move or stand still by which means they being now Spiritual Christians would become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animal Men. And moreover that they interpreting Scripture by the Spirit may force men to submit their judgments to them Whereas it would be ridiculous to submit to a Church which allows every one to judge of the sence of Scripture by their corrupt private reason These sure are notable Advantages on a Spiritual Churches side Yet on the other side they foresee that by such opposition they shall sadly expose thâ—mselves to his deriding Rhetorick For his Reason will make their Spirit miserably ridiculous He will bid them to make proof to him that they interpret Scripture by the Spirit and to shew when and which way the Spirit left English Proâ—estants to agitate them and also by what marks they know that all of their own faction have the Spirit and they alone though other Sects dissenting and oppâ—sing them do ground their opposiâ—ion on the same Spirit Now it being impossible for any of them by the hâ—lp of their Spirit to answer a word of sâ—nce to his Reason they will lamentably remain at his mercy Therefore they will not meddle with him And moreover they foresee that the Church â—f England will not account her self touch'd in this Dispute For she will renounce both private Reason and private Spirit and tell them that they must receive the sence of Scripture from her Therefore very wiseâ—y they will pursue their old way against her and tell her that she has received her Authirity from Idolaters yea from the Pope whom her own Bishops call Antichrist And God forbid that they should submit to such an Authority And for her Excommunications they account them no better than bruta fulmina on condition that their Purses may not be touched 83. Having therefore in my own perswasion invincible Reasons to make this judgment of Dr. Stillingfleet's Church of England and moreover not having ever heard and being confident that I never shall hear that any one English Bishop did or will so far betray themselves as to allow the grounds on which Mr. Chillingworth and after him the Doctor proceeded can you Sir think it just to render me the Object of the general hatred of English Protestants by transferring as you have done on the Church of England all the sharp and scornful Invectives which I have made against Dr. Stillingfleet's Church It is not I assure you the Church of England that I taxed for want of Miracles which are not indeed at all necessary in case she be as she professes a true Member of the Catholick Church But it is Dr. Stillingfleet's Church from which Miracles are to be required since it is a new-fashioned Church the like whereof was never seen before the last Age. And it is only Dr. Stillingfleet's Church to which I upbraided the exâ—â—usion of a Religious Prâ—fession which was nevâ—r condemned by the Church of England And the like I affirm with regard to all other pâ—ssages in my Book which have raisâ—d such indignation in you against me Which indignation I hopâ— you will have the goodness to qualifie when you shall read this my Defence to which I add also once more that if there be any phrase in any Book written by me whicâ— may probably be esteemed a reproachful reviling of the Church or Clergy of England I do here revoke and ask pardon for it ¶ 7. Câ—ncerning my Lord Falkland and detraction from his memory imputed to me 84. I Will here in the next place in regard of the affinity of the Subject annex that special Head among your manifold Accusations against me which concern thâ— Vindication of the Honour and Esteem of my Noble dear Lord Falkland aspersed say you most ungratefully and falsly by me with the Character of a Socinian Truly Sir it was not without some contentment to me to see any one interesting himself in clearing the Reputation of that Noble Person the greatest Ornament to our Nâ—tion that the last Age produced and which certainly could never with justice be blasted by any English Pen or Tongue 85. I was I confess extreamly astonished to find my self called to the Bar upon that account and to see that the ground of my Inditement should be a double Narration in my Answer to Doctor Stillingâ—leet hoâ— I presented D'aille his Book du vray usage des Peres to my Lord Falkland â— which he gave to Mr. â—hillingworth and shortly after sent to me being then in Ireland a Letter of Thanks especially in Mr. Chillingworth's behalf because the said Book had saved him a tedious labour of reading most of the Greek and Latine Fathers to whose Doctrines he had engaged himself to conform his belief And further in pursuance of my Narration I added how Mr. Chillingwâ—rth thanks to D'aille being now become a Protestant and having an intention to defend Dr. Potter against his Adversary F. Knâ—tt was induced by occasion of a Socinian's Book which he had met withal to proceed in the Controversie against Cathâ—licks upon far different grounds from those which had been made use of by former learned Protestant Bishops and Doctors For in stead of appealing to Antiquity Councils or Fathers for the sence of Scripture he resolved to appeal to the Scripture alone and this interpreted by each one 's own Reason and Judgment since in all necessary Points it is so plain as he pretends that none can mistake the sence of it or be obliged to submit his Reason to any external Authority interpreting it and Errour in places difficult will easily find pardon 86. This is the sence of the double Narrative on which you ground your Accusation you are willing also to question the truth of the Narration and to make me pass for a wicked person guilty of forgery All I can say hereto is to protest here in the presence of God that I have not willingly failed in any one material circumstance of this short story and since I am sure that it is true it exceeds the bounds of Omnipâ—tence to cause that which