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A51741
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A reformed catechism. The first dialogue in two dialogues concerning the English Reformation / collected for the most part, word for word out of Dr. Burnet, John Fox, and other Protestant historians ; published for the information of the people in reply to Mas William Kings answer to D. Manby's considerations &c. ; by Peter Manby.
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Manby, Peter, d. 1697.
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1687
(1687)
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Wing M388; ESTC R30509
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77,561
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110
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reason pag. 38. It was not only Cranmers Opinion but the Opinion of most learned men in Europe that her Mothers Marriage with King Henry was null Now whether he understands this matter so well as he thinks shall appear in the second part of this Catechism Good Reader I humbly desire this Favour of thee to set aside Prejudice and Interest for the space of two or three hours whilst thou art reading this Book which are but Pearls upon both thy Eyes that will hinder thy sight Remember that Prayer of the Church of England From Heresie and Schism good Lord deliver us Hadst thou never so many Vertues yet to live and dye in Schism is as much as thy Soul is worth Think upon the difference betwixt Time and Eternity the consideration whereof must oblige thee to slight and despise all those things that concern thee only during this momentary Life in comparison of those things that relate to thy future estate What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul That there is a Schism in the Christian world is but too apparent now you shall find very learned and moderate Protestants acquitting the Church of Rome from erring in the essentials of Religion and very few now a days except rank Fanatiques denying her to be a Christian Church Why then in the name of God should there be a Schism about matters of no vital importance Enquire a little further into matters Read the Mass it self and other Books of Devotion written by Roman Catholiques pray to God to inflame your heart with the fire of Charity and to bestow upon you the Grace of Humility and contempt of your own private Spirit Listen now and then to the inartificial Sermons of Roman Catholique Priests and Fryars and by the Grace of God you shall find Popery another thing than you take it for Remember that Popery appears not with so ridiculous a Face to the eyes of Protestants but the Protestant Principles look as absurdly to the eyes of a Papist The Intention of this Book is to present thee with a Synopsis of the Reformation and that for the most part not my own but Dr. Burnet's Words because the Words of an Author so licensed and commended by the Two Houses of Parliament 1680. cannot doubtless but be obliging to most Protestants This Favour I desire of thee that the Printers Mistakes if any there be may not be imputed to me In short as for Mas William King observe his modest way of writing against Popery and thou shalt find therein a double portion of Dr. Burnets Spirit Farewell A REFORMED CATECHISM OR A PROSPECT OF THE ENGLISH REFORMATION c. THere is no part of History better received says Dr. Burnet than the Account of great Changes and Revolutions of State and Government Of all Changes those in Religion that have been sudden and signal are enquired into with the most searching Curiosity where the Salvation of Souls beeing concerned the better sort are much affected And the Credit Honour and Interest of Parties draw in others who though they care not much for the Religious part yet make a noise about it to serve their ends The Changes that have been made in Religion the last Century have produced such effects every where that it is no wonder if all persons desire to see a clear Account of the several steps in which they advanced of the Councils that directed them and the Motives both religious and political that inclined men of all conditions to concur in them Burnets Preface to his first vol. pag. 1. A. THe Doctor observes very well and therefore I pray you tell us some of those memorable passages that have occur'd to you in reading that History which Protestants say he hath compiled with so much Industry and Integrity B. I shall very willingly comply with your desires provided you will give me leave to do it in my own method A. What method will you observe B. In the first place to entertain you with the Characters of the first Apostles and Evangelists of Reformation under the famous King Henry VIII and his Son Edward VI. and that in the Doctors own words which I remark to this end that it may appear how likely Persons they were to have been sent or raised up by God for the Reformation of the World and Restoration of the ancient Piety In the next place to give you an Account of the Reformation it self which began with King Henry's divorcing of Queen Katherine and Marriage with Ann Bolen with some Observations of my own as I go along A. Take your own Method and since you think it convenient to relate their Characters I would fain know the Doctors Opinion of King Henry himself whom I am told he calls the Postilion of Reformation B. Take it it in his own words viz. I am not to defend him nor to lessen his Faults The vastness and irregularity of his Expence procured many heavy Exactions and twice extorted a publique Discharge of his Debts His proud and impatient Spirit occasioned many cruel proceedings The taking so many Lives only for denying his Supremacy particularly Fisher's and More 's the one being extream old and the other one of the Glories of his Nation for Probity and Learning His extream Severity to all Cardinal Pools Family His cruel using first Cromwell and afterwards the Duke of Norfolk and his Son besides his unexampled proceedings against some of his Wives Preface to his first vol. pag. 7. The Faults of this King being so conspicuous and the Severity of his Proceedings so unjustifiable particularly that heinous Violation of the most sacred Rules of Justice and Government in condemning men without bringing them to make their Answers most of our Writers have separated the concerns of this Church from his Reign and imagining that all he did was founded only on his Revenge upon the Court of Rome for denying his Divorce have taken little care to examine how matters were transacted in his time Preface pag. 6. A. What further account does the Doctor give of him B. He thought the German Princes and Divines should have submitted all things to his Judgment and had such an opinion of his own Learning and was so pufft up with the flattering Praises that he daily heard that he grew impatient of any opposition and thought that his Dictates should pass for Oracles pag. 196. of his first vol. He never hated nor ruined any body by halves pag. 346. and p. 362. I do not deny that he is to be numbred among the ill Princes yet I cannot rank him with the worst He is rather to be reckoned among the great than the good Princes ibid. A. Does the Doctor say nothing in excuse of him B. Yes the Reader may observe Burnet straining all his Wit and Learning to find out Apologies and Excuses for him and the rest of the Reformers If we consider saith he the great things that were done by him we must