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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26615	Protestancy to be embrac'd, or, A new and infallible method to reduce Romanists from popery to Protestancy a treatise of great use to all His Majesties subjects, and necessary to prevent error and popery / by David Abercromby, D., lately converted, after he had profess'd near nineteen years Jesuitism and popery.	Abercromby, David, d. 1701 or 2.	1682 (1682)	Wing A86; ESTC R6382	30,832	174

Principles they follow by professing Protestancy a probable and well-grounded opinion That worshipping God after the Protestant manner they may attain to the end they were created for which is eternal happiness SECT 2. Conclusions flowing naturally from the second Principle of this method THE second Principle was That Protestants may be saved more easily and with greater security than those of the Romish Persuasion I shall not repeat here what I said before to explain rather than to prove this self-evident Truth hence only I infer what is evident enough of it self without any formal inference I. That Romish Priests are obliged not to endeavor as they do the Conversion or rather Perversion of Protestants because 't is a sin to withdraw any man from the safest way to Heaven II. The Romanists once convinc'd as I hope they are of this second Principle must of necessity renounce Popery and profess Protestancy there being an obligation incumbent to all men in matters of such a high Concern to chuse that which is securest III. Protestants must stand stoutly to their own Religion and way of Divine Worship and cannot if they regard a good Conscience after this instruction turn Romanists because in so doing they would endanger their own Souls by reason of the forementioned obstacles to salvation in the profession of Popery IV. All true Protestants and more particularly Those who by their Dignity Office and Imployment are to watch over the Flock must needs if they will perform their duty endeavour with all Charitable and Christian means the Confirmation of Protestants in Protestancy and the Conversion of their Popish Subjects from Popery else they forfeit their Character and Ministry as neglecting the spiritual concerns of Souls redeem'd by the precious blood of Christ and committed to their trust and vigilancy If I have been my self instrumental to the perversion of several while misled by a blind Zeal I saw things but under one light I shall at Conveniency repair this Damage done to the Church by writing in my spare-hours such instructions as may be subservient to their returning homewards or useful to the conversion of others and particularly my nearest and dearest Relations V. I shall put here a stop to my Pen and an end to this Treatise with a short and charitable Advice to all His Majesties Subjects of the Romish Persuasion Charitable Advice to all His Majesties Subjects of the Romish Persuasion YOu have believ'd till now as an Article of your Faith That Protestants were all Reprobates Hereticks Schismaticks and many of them Apostates Your Faith being ever an implicite one and pinn'd on other mens sleeves You are more to be pitied for this gross mistake than blam'd You are not unlike pardon me the freedom of this Parallel to those that are blind from their birth You may induce such men to believe any Falshood you please as for instance that White is Black or Black is White because they want the use of their visive Faculty and solely relie on your Authority You renounce not only to your reason in favour of the pretended Council-Oracles You hold not only your understanding captive when Rome speaks but you extinguish the clearest light thereof in submission to her Decisions as if you were quite blind and understood nothing or as if Nature had not bestowed upon you an intellective Faculty in order to discern good from evil falshood from truth to try the spirits whence they are whether of God or not The Romanists your Masters imitate those ancient Heathens who to gain the Peoples esteem and greater veneration for their Laws said confidently They had received them immediatly from the gods So they to hold you in awe and tyrannize over your understandings as by a principle of Conscience call boldly whatever is decided in General Councils Divine Oracles Reveal'd Truths Faith-Articles which is the greatest Artifice the Prince of Darkness could invent to spread all the World over Error Ignorance and Superstition To avoid then your being seduc'd hereafter make use of your Reason since 't is chiefly allow'd you for your attaining to the knowledge of saving Truths peruse often and meditate frequently this Treatise wherein you shall discover clearly I. That Protestants you have been so averse from hitherto through preoccupation and ignorance may be saved as being true Members of the Universal Church and neither Hereticks nor Schismaticks II. That they attain to Eternal Happiness more easily and with greater safety than Romanists standing to the Principles of Popery III. That the boasted of Infallibility of General Councils is no Article of Faith amongst Roman-Catholicks but a meer politick design to domineer by this persuasion over all Nations for the increase of temporal Concerns and that as Rome of old subdued the World by force of Arms she may still enslave it by Religious Scruples and strong Fancies of the Divine Original of her Oracles which was meant by the Poet that sung thus Roma caput mundi quic quid non possidet armis Religione tenet You have pretended formerly your Conscience suffered you not to conform to that Divine Worship now established by Law in these three Kingdoms you thought it not lawful to forsake Popery and profess Protestancy as being in your opinion nothing else but Heresie Schism Apostasie This can be no more an Obstacle to your Conversion you are now informed to Conviction of the contrary and of your incumbent Obligation to retreat from Romanism of two Evils the least is to be chosen and of two ways to Heaven that which is securest in matters of this Concern all deliberation laid aside your Conscience will press you to the surest So long as you endeavour your being insensible to her Checks you pretend in vain to any true happiness in this life she will sound perpetually in your ears the extreme danger you are in through your own fault and as an inseparable terrifying and threatning Ghost disturb your Repose by day and by night in all times and in all places Omnibus umbra locis aderit FINIS Tom. 6. l. 2. con Donat. Anst con Maxim l. 3. c. 4. De ordin Cele con Acts 8.1 Luk. 24.32 Act. 3.22 1 Cor. 10.24 25 27. 1 Timot. 3. Hebr. 13.4 1 Timot. 4.3.6 1 Corinth 7.2

PROTESTANCY To be Embrac'd OR A New and Infallible Method To Reduce ROMANISTS FROM POPERY TO Protestancy A Treatise of great Use to all His Majesties Subjects and necessary to prevent Error and Popery By David Abercromby D. Lately Converted after he had Profess'd near Nineteen Years Jesuitism and Popery LONDON Printed for the Author by Thomas Hodgkin 1682. TO THE Right Reverend Father in God HENRY LORD BISHOP of London Dean of His Majesties Chappel and one of His most Honourable Privy Council My Lord I Was once fully resolved to side first openly with the Protestant Church and then to inform the Publick of the true motives of my Conversion from Popery to Protestancy but upon second thoughts ad obstruendum os loquentium iniqua to stop the mouths of such as could misconstrue my intentions I judg'd it necessary to prevent the reflections of some and surprisal of others I acknowledge my self in this Conjuncture Accountable by duty to two sorts of persons 1. To the Jesuites my former Brethren 2. To the Roman Catholicks of my familiar acquaintance I was looked upon by those as being able to serve them at home as I had not been useless to them abroad and by these as a zealous Defender of Popery If I can but allay the first heats of both and hinder a sudden rise of anger and passion I may hope by this peaceable method to conquer irresistibly their understandings yea if pre-occupation stand not betwixt them and the truth strike at their hearts and change their wills My Thoughts my Lord were not long at a stand under whose Patronage this short Treatise should face the Publick it being chiefly intended for the Conservation of the Protestant Religion and Conversion of His Majesties Subjects from Superstition and Popery I was of opinion you could claim a peculiar right to it not only on the account of your Character and Dignity but particularly because of that Apostolick zeal you are inflam'd withall for your Flocks spiritual Concerns and Proficiency whereby you are powerfully moved to accept of and defend whatever may prove instrumental to the increase of true Virtue and Christian Piety I confess ingenuously your Deep Knowledge makes me somewhat apprehensive of your Censure but your eminent Virtue puts me in hopes again you will easily pardon whatever you shall find defective in this method or not answerable to your own Accuracy Yet I have call'd it and hope it shall prove such infallible for two Reasons 1. Because taken wholly it amounts to a clear and forcible Demonstration though perhaps each Argument it contains will not prove a full Conviction to every obstinate Romanist 2. Because it relies on Self-evident Principles and overthrows the most material Obstacles to the Conversion of Romanists I mean their preoccupated Opinions and groundless Fancies That Protestants are all Reprobates Schismaticks Hereticks and such as retreat from Popery to Protestancy Apostates but however this method prove otherwise infallible which the event must determine one thing I may confidently ascertain it will shew infallibly to Posterity with what respect I am MY LORD Your most Humble And Obedient Servant David Abercromby The most material Contents of this Book I. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY II. The Authors former Life and the occasion of his Conversion Page 1 III. That Protestants may be saved Page 19 Grounded 1. On their Allegiance to all their respective Superiours Page 21 2. On Gods general providence and care to illuminate all men for attaining the end he created them for Page 25 3. On their high sentiments of Gods mercies and Christs merits Page 27 4. On their living and lively faith Page 28 5. On their belief of all Fundamentals and Acts of true divine Love Page 30 6. On the Nature and Doctrine of a probable Opinion received by Romanists Page 33 7. On this undeniable Truth That they are neither Schismaticks nor Hereticks but true Members of the Vniversal Church Page 44 IV. That Protestants may be saved more easily and with greater security than Romanists grounded on their not admittance of these obstacles that are infallibly to be met with in the Profession of Romanism Page 62 Such be 1. Their rash and implicite Faith Page 64 2. Their endless Scruples caus'd by their doctrine relating to Baptism Page 65 3. Their less apprehension of Hell by their relying on Purgatory and of mortal sin by that dangerous Opinion of theirs That all sins deserve not eternal punishment Page 70 4. Their neglect and not reading of Divine Scriptures Page 71 5. Their Prayers in an unknown Tongue Page 75 6. Their Doctrine of Transubstantiation Page 76 7. Their Invocation of the Virgin Mary and other Saints Page 95 8. Their Image-worship Wafer-worship Relick-worship c. Page 97 9. Their renouncing Sense and Reason in favor of their Romish decisions Page 106 10. Their multiplied Fasts and Abstinency under pain of mortal sin Page 107 11. Their forbidding Ecclesiasticks to marry Page 110 12. Their insnaring Vows of Chastity Poverty Obedience and of more than God has commanded them to do Page 112 IV. Conclusions flowing from the Principles establish'd in the first two Articles Page 129 V. Charitable Advice to all His Majesties Subjects of ihe Romish Persuasion Page 145 Protestancy To be embrac'd OR An Infallible Method to reduce Romanists From Popery to Protestancy 1. THis little Treatise will be a Subject of great amazement to all such as have known my former Life and Conversation whereof courteous and curious Reader take this accurate short and true account 2. I was bred up in my greener years at Doway and in a short time became so good a Proficient in the mysteries of Popery that I enter'd the Order of Jesuits in France at my first instance I lived amongst them full eighteen years and more and I may say without vanity in some esteem and repute of a Scholar being judg'd after a solemn examen capable to teach Divinity and Philosophy in the most renown'd Universities of Europe which is the Jesuits way of G●aduating their own men in Divinity I taught in France Grammar in Lorrain Mathematicks and Philosophy and being graduate in Physick I practis'd it not unhappily and intend to practise it hereafter with certain hopes God willing of the same good success 3. All this while I studied more to the endowment of the intellective faculty by humane Sciences than to perfect my will by solid Vertues and Piety To which I thought the School-divinity as taught by Romanists was not a small hinderance The speculative part thereof being apter to beget doubts of the truth of Christianism than to clear those that men may and do sometimes frame to themselves 4. Take for instance they call in question and dispute if the Incarnation of God was possible or not if God can lye or speak a falshood if it be within the reach of his Omnipotency to condemn an Innocent soul to the pains of everlasting flames if his actual existency can be clearly proved

This method to be such as 't is design'd shall be 1. Plain that every one may understand it 2. Peaceable that the will may be gain'd and by it the understanding sweetly conquer'd 3. Short that it may be proportionable to the leisure of the most busied and none through Prolixity loth to read it All this I hope I shall perform to the satisfaction of Protestants and Conviction of Romanists if I make out with the clearness of a Noon Sun-shine 1. That Protestants may be saved 2. That they may be saved more easily and with greater security than those of the Romish perswasion 19. The first of these Principles proved will cause Romanists to look upon Protestants with a brotherly Love and Charity the second once establish'd will force them sweetly but irresistably to side with them as to matters of Religion and Divine Worship since they are perswaded in a business of such a weighty moment as is that of our Everlasting Happiness Tutius semper est eligendum the safest must still be preferred before what is less secure 20. This Treatise shall contain three short Articles in the two first I shall prove evidently to all Impartial Readers the forementioned truths in the last we shall raise such inferences as flow naturally from these two foregoing Principles ARTICLE I. PRINCIPLE I. That Protestants may be saved SECT I. 1. NOthing makes Romanists more averse from Protestants than this groundless perswasion of theirs that Protestants cannot be saved this is the sole cause of their obstinacy in Popery the true source of their immortal hatred against us and the very root of these extream Rigors they have practis'd against Protestants where-ever they happen'd to be absolute Masters This pitiful mistake wherein I liv'd several years was as a veil before my eyes hindering me to see the truth which now by the Grace of God I see clearly 2. Because this Principle is of great moment for the Conversion of Romanists I shall prove it to perswasion in two different ways 1. Positively by positive and evincing Reasons 2. Negatively by shewing there can be no let or hinderance of Salvation to such as profess Protestancy 3. I can imagine but two things necessary to Salvation or the attaining of Eternal Felicity The First is to live conformably to the Law of God because he is what he is our Soveraign Lord and Master The Second is to live conformably to the lawful Commands of such men as have their Authority deriv'd from him as the first Law-giver such are Kings Magistrates Princes and all Superiors whatsoever in their respective degrees of Superiority and Authority 4. As to the first point what people in the World professeth a more sincere allegiance to God or a more scrupulous observance of his Holy Law than the Reformed Churches do So as of old it was said Not us in judaeâ Deus that God was known particularly to the Jews we may say in all truth of them there is no where such a general knowledge whether practical or speculative of his Holy Law as amongst Protestants they read it in their Churches they interpret it in their Pulpits they peruse it in their Families they make it the Subject of their private Meditations of their more serious Conversations The Star they guide themselves by through the stormy Sea of this World is no other but Gods Infallible written Word whereunto they conform or which is all one for my intent they ought by their Principles to conform their Thoughts Words and all their Actions Is it than consistent with reason to exclude from a capacity of Eternal Felicity such as not relying upon uncertain Traditions regulate all their steps by the rule of God's Infallible Word Let us lay aside our own particular fancys and renounce our too partial and preoccupated Judgments and we shall instantly pronounce in their favour not a little discontent and amaz'd at our former uncharity and gross mistakes 5. Their Doctrine relating to our allegiance due to all Superiors is so wholesome and peaceable that I can imagine none more subservient to the interest of Princes they are infinitely averse and with all reason from that irrational opinion of most Romanist Divines who teach the Pope of Rome has power to Depose Princes when it pleaseth him to fancy they are Hereticks Whether they give a direct authority to the Pope over Kings which is no less than to enslave all Crown'd Heads to the Bishop of Rome or an indirect one only to depose Princes in certain Junctures 't is clear they take from Caesar what is Caesar's that independency on all earthly power God has allowed him here on Earth Princes are accountable to the King of Kings for all their actions and we to them if we forget so far our duty as to refuse them due allegiance This Doctrine being confess'd and profess'd by all true Protestants can we either think or say they are Reprobates or not in the way to Heav'n 6. To banish such an unchristian fancy far from your thoughts remember what is said in Scripture God illuminates all men illuminat omnem hominem for what end For no other but that by this light they may discover the way to their last end if all men be thus illuminated are Protestants excepted Are they not men and most of them great examples of vertue and piety 7. I wonder'd often to hear Romanists grant such as shall never hear of Christ and his Gospel were nevertheless in a capacity to save their Souls provided they lived conformably to the dictates of right reason I was amaz'd I say to hear them confess this and so inconsequentially deny the same to Protestants but what can we expect from preoccupated judgments but in just Censures uncharitable Reflexions and illegal Conclusions 8. I desire them here to consider that no people in the World hath higher sentiments of God and lower of themselves than those of the Reform'd Churches Which are confessedly the best Dispositions can be imagin'd to render us capable of that end we were created for They neither rely on the Mediation and Merits of Saints nor on their own good works they ground all their hopes of Salvation on the precious blood of Christ shed for us upon the Altar of the Cross they exalt highly by all their principles Gods infinite goodness and mercy ever acknowledging when they have done all they can they are but useless Servants and that all their sufficiency floweth from that overflowing Fountain of all power goodness and mercy 9. And if without faith 't is impossible to please God we have all reason to say they are most acceptable to his eyes since they show by their works their Faith is a saving and living Faith Who ever hath convers'd with them more intimately and will speak impartially what he thinks of their Life and Conversation shall easily assent to this and confess ingenuously they are the best representatives of the Primitive Christians so real you shall find them

form of Prayer appointed to be said after every Council they pray that God would spare their ignorance and pardon their errors and if they curse and anathematize such as reject their decisions this argues not they arrogate to themselves any infallibility in deciding for the same is the practice of Provincial and Particular Councils who neither pretend to be nor are look'd upon by the Romanists as infallible Judges 9. This undeniable truth is of greater moment than perhaps it appears to be of at first For if the General Councils be not infallible when they decide in matters of Faith none of their decisions can be holden by Romanists as divine and reveal'd truths unless they be evidently conformable to God's written Word Wherefore receive they not the definitions of a private man as reveal'd Oracles the reason is because they know he is fallible and lyable to error Now the same being the condition and fate of General Councils they must of necessity confess they impose no obligation upon us to believe their decisions as Articles of Divine Faith Who then rejects as Protestants do Transubstantiation Invocation of Saints Image-worship Power of Popes to depose Princes Prayer for the dead and all other points we yield not to the Romanists deny's only what is asserted by errable Councils and consequently no Articles of Divine Faith we are therefore notoriously calumniated when on this account we are called by Papists obstinate in error and Hereticks 10. But how sayes the Romanist shall we resolve our doubts in matters of Faith if we acknowledge not the definitions of General Councils as divine and infallible Oracles You was told before by S. Austin how to behave in this case I repeat his words set matter with matter sayes he cause with cause reason with reason try the matter by the authority of Divine Scriptures never yet corrupted in material points nor ever shall by Gods especial and necessary Providence over his Church if then you read his Infallible Word with true humility and a sincere desire of your own spiritual profit he will open your understanding resolve your scruples give repose to your conscience and as great insight in his Word as he knows to be convenient for your spiritual interest 11. This method is better and securer than that of the Romanists what-ever is decided by a lawful general Council is to them an Article of Faith a reveal'd truth a divine Oracle but such Councils they hold none to be unless the Members thereof have been really baptiz'd which they can never be certain of because this depends on the uncertain intentions of those who Baptiz'd them For they generally teach besides the pronunciation of the words I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father c. The Ministers intention to confer the Sacrament is absolutely necessary so if it be wanting as easily it may the Child is not Baptiz'd On the same account they are not certain if their Popes be Priests because perhaps the Bishop who ordain'd them had no such intention when he pronounced the set form of ordination Of this I shall say a word again in another place 12. But if the general Councils be not infallible what mean the Scriptures by asserting The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church the Church is the pillar and ground of truth To this I answer There is nothing here as is evident relating to that ptetended infallible decisive faculty of General Councils The first Proposition signifieth only the true Church shall have an existency and being to the end of the World maugre the opposition of Tyrants Persecutors and all her Enemies though it may fall out she be not always visible in any Assembly or Congregation As it happen'd to the Primitive Church at Jerusalem when all her Members were scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judaea and Samaria as it happen'd when Christ was smitten and all the rest were hid as it happen'd in Elias his time who thought he was left alone not knowing where th' other seaven thousand true Worshippers of God were as it happen'd during the Persecution of the Roman Emperors and lately before the General Reformation of the Christian World yet the Gates of Hell prevail'd not against the Church because she was ever existent though not visible as now to the World Her Meetings and Assemblys being of necessity in that juncture of affairs very secret and unknown to her Enemies She is said to be the pillar and ground of truth by reason of Gods especial Providence over her Children never suffering them all to fail and err but still stirring up some or several in opposition to Superstition Idolatry and Errors ARTICLE II. PRINCIPLE II. That Protestants may be saved more easily and with greater security than Romanists I Hope the foregoing Discourse will be an occasion of moderation to the most severe Romanists who reflecting impartially on their former mistakes rash Judgments and preoccupated opinions will convert their former zeal or rather fury against Protestants into Brotherly Love and Charity I say more if they will be at the pains to consider a moment or two and seriously the Contents of this second Article they shall I doubt not let go the uncertain take what is surest and embrace Protestancy as the easiest and safest way to our Eternal Happiness since by the grace of God it wants these lets and impediments to be met with in the Profession of Popery To run over some of them with order and method we shall take notice 1. Of their Faith and Doctrine 2. Of their Divine Worship and Ecclesiastical Discipline SECT I. Their Faith and Doctrine 1. THeir Faith is so blind that I have heard many of them say if a General Council had defin'd white to be black they would believe it whereby you see they are disposed to admit of any error if it be authoriz'd by a General Council though the infallibility thereof be no point of their Faith as I have proved evidently in the foregoing Article 2. They believe Baptism absolutely necessary to Salvation and none a true and real one if the Minister when he pronounceth the words intends not to Baptize which no doubt happens frequently since his intention may be easily diverted to his other designs and affairs Let all the World judge if people thus principled can enjoy a true repose of mind or peace of Conscience the only foretast we have in this life of that to come For how can they know assuredly whether the Minister or Priest really intended to Baptize them or not and so they may doubt if they be Christians for such they grant none is to be accounted without true Baptism and of this they can have no certainty because they are still uncertain of the Ministers intention judg'd by them so necessary to the validity of this Sacrament that if he intended only the meer pronounciation of the words I Baptize thee in the name of the Father c. The Baptism could be