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A51738 The considerations which oblig'd Peter Manby dean of London-dery, to embrace the Roman Catholic religion humbly dedicated to His Grace the Lord Primate of Ireland. Manby, Peter, d. 1697. 1687 (1687) Wing M384; ESTC R7924 16,848 24

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Indignation to see so much Stripping and Plundering of God's House under pretence of Resorming it Tu abominaris Idola Sacrilegium facis Rom. 1. 22. FAREWEL May it please your Grace I Humbly beg leave to send Your Grace this short Account of my Reconcilement to the Roman Catholick Church God be praised it was not any consideration of Temporal Interest that inclin'd me to it as all that have known me these several years past can witness But having often reflected on the uncertainty and variety of the Protestant Spirit and perused the Books of Catholicks without prejudice especially the Mass it self I found my self deceiv'd by the Reports which I had entertain'd of Catholick Religion THere are three Points chiefly wherein I could never satisfy my self since I began to Study the Controversy between both Churches One is the Authority or Mission of the first Reformers The second is the want of Confession in the Church of England The Third is the Answer given by Protestants to that Question in His late Majesties Papers Where is that one Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church which we do profess to believe in the two Creeds As to the first I have seen Dr. Bramhall's and Mr. Mason's Vindications of the Church of England but could never find any satisfactory Answer to this Question Who Authoriz'd the first Reformers to Preach their Protestant Doctrine and Administer their Protestant Sacraments Their Priestly or Episcopal Character whether valid or no I meddle not with to prevent Disputes Although I think it no easy matter to find out who Ordain'd the first Protestant Bishops there being none to do it except Roman Catholick Prelates who never use to Consecrate any Protestants This Testimony I lately met with in the Records annexed to Dr. Burnet's second Volume of his History of the Resormation In the Month of March anno 1553. Queen Mary sent this amongst other Articles to the Bishop of London viz. Touching such persons as were heretofore meaning the days of Edward the VI. promoted to any Orders after the new sort and fashion of Orders considering they were not order'd in very deed the Bishop of the Diocess finding otherwise sufficiency and ability in those men may supply that thing which wanted in them before and then according to his discretion admit them to Minister c. This Royal Testimony with the Honest Protestant Reader will not be despisable I shall not insist upon it but only observe at present that Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Latimer Bishop of Worcester at the time of their Confecration were profess'd Roman Catholicks in all points except perhaps the Pope's Supremacy But afterwards turning Protestants and pronouncing the Church of Rome Idolatrous I would fain know by whose Authority The truth is they were first Ordain'd Catholick Bishops according to the Roman Pontifical and afterwards made themselves Protestant Bishops But I understand not how a Man can forsake the Church of England and Preach Presbyterian Doctrine by virtue of his Protestant Orders nor how any man can justify his Protestant Doctrine by Authority of his Popish Mission This was Cranmer and Latimer's case who at the time of their Consecration which was in the days of Henry the VIII professed Seven Sacraments whether they believ'd so many is a Question Afterwards anno 1536. retrenched them to Three that is to say Baptism Penance and the Lord's Supper Then to Two anno 1548 By whose Authority or Mission I cannot tell So that Protestancy seem to me to have been born into the World not like Honestly begotte Children whose Parents are known but rather like a By-blow whose Father is doubtful I have known some Pre byrerians when question'd about their Mission pretend they did receive it from the Church of England Prelates But being further interrogated Did that Church Authorize you to Preach against her Sacraments or Liturgy There was no Answer to be had I know it will be said that the Protestant Religion is Authoriz'd by Act of Parliament and so is not Presbytery A Parliamentary Mission then our first Reformers had and no other that I can find But whether the Parliament being a Civil Authority has Power to send Missioners to Preach the Gospel and Administer Sacraments I do not well understand If they have I suppose every Member of Parliament may Preach and Administer Sacraments if he pleases because no man can give that Authority unto others which he hath not himself And if English Parliaments may Preach and Administer Sacraments I doubt not but the French Spanish Scotch and Irish may do the same and then what Unity of Spirit or agreement in Faith Christians are like to have I could never understand To this two Answers are wont to be given which I will not conceal from the Reader One is that Cranmer and his Associates were sent and ordered by the Roman Pontifical to instruct the people according to the Scriptures This is the Answer of Dr. Burnet The Church saith he was over-run with Errours and Corruptions this Cranmer saw and was obliged to undeceive the people Very good But I intreat the Reader to inspect the Records aforesaid published by the Doctor himself and annexed to the first and second Volume of his History where he shall find Cranmer and one or two Bishops more pretending Errours and Corruptions and driving on a Reformation against the Major Vote of the English Bishops He shall find the same Cranmer at the time of his Consecration owning and professing those very Doctrines which afterwards he called Errours and Corruptions so that still I must ask the old Question by whose Authority did he condemn that Church from whom he receiv'd his Mission and Holy Orders I desire to know whether an honest Man can Preach against the Liturgy Sacraments or Constitution of any Church by virtue of any Commission he received from it And whether such Preacher be not liable to the Censures of that Church Did ever any Church Authorize her Priests or Bishops to go and Preach the Gospel according to their own private Sense and Conscience in contradiction to her declared Doctrine and Worship Does the Church of England give any such Power at this day No by no means Read the Form appointed by her for the Ordination of a Priest where the Bishop is to interrogate the Party thus viz. Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the Order of this Church of England to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood The Answer is I think so Will you then saith the Protestant Bishop give your diligence always to Minister the Doctrine and Sacraments as this Church and Realm hath received the same according to the Commandments of God The Answer is I will do so by the help of God. So that as no honest Man can turn Presbyterian or Independant Preacher by virture of his Protestant Mission so neither can he Preach Protestant Doctrine by pretence of a Commission he received from the Church of