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Preparations to the examining of the grounds of the Roman Churches autho∣rity.
1. VVEll, at last lifting up my heart in dayly and almost hourely fervent prayers unto almighty God for the direction of his Holy spirit (a practise which, God knowes, I never discontinued from the beginning of my search, but now a more urging necessity sharp∣ned the intention and fervour of my heart;) and striving all I could to cleanse the scals, wherein I
was to weigh this so important a merchandise, from all externall prejudices or allurements, or any thing that might hinder my enquiry from being perfectly ingenuous and unpartiall; and almost vowing that, if God would be pleased to set me on a rock higher than my selfe, giving repose unto my minde, that onely knew quid fugeret, but not, quò fugeret, I would consecrate the remainder of my life to blesse and serve him in the best and strictest manner I could finde; and lastly, resolving to purchase truth at the dearest rate possible, though with the losse of fortunes, hopes, friends or Countrey; I applyed my minde earnestly and diligiently to the examination of the authority, and, so much disputed, infallibility of the Roman Church, to Catholiques a rock of foundation upon which all Religion relyed, but to me hitherto a rock of offence, and the maine considerable prejudice, which drove me back whensoever I endea∣voured to make any appoaches toward that Church.
2. My next preparation and provision for this businesse, was to informe my selfe, not so much from particular Catholique Doctors, as from the Church it selfe, in the decisions of her Councels, what was her doctrine in this point, and in what manner and termes ex∣pressed: my designe being to learne onely what was so necessary to be believed in this Article, as that without it, a man could not call himselfe a Catholique, and with subscription to which alone, a man might sufficiently justifie him∣self against all exception to deserve that title. For this purpose I applyed my selfe to the Study of
the ancient received Councels, I perused dili∣gently the Codex Canonum Ecclesiae Universae, Bur∣chardus Wormatiensis, Caranza's summe of the Councels, but especially the Councell of Trent, and the Bull of Pope Pius quartus, desiring fur∣ther information from severall learned Catho∣liques. If I perused any particular Controver∣tists, it was with intention to take notice of such unquestioned and unsuspected Authors as had most retrenched from this controversie all particular opinions, and had expressed their understanding of the Churches meaning with the greatest condescendence and qualifica∣tion.
3. Having made extraits pertinent to my purpose out of the forementioned Councells and Authors, and having digested them, I deduced corrollaries out of them, importing what au∣thority the Church assumed to her selfe, whence derived, and how limitted. And, distrusting mine owne Collections, to confirme my selfe further, and to assay whether those de∣ductions would be allowable by Catholiques sufficiently informed of the true sense of the Churches doctrine, I gathered out of my ex∣traits certaine Conclusions, which I digested into a forme of Questions; These I sent to a worthy and learned friend a Doctor of the faculty of Paris, desiring his resolution, whether such senses as I had given of the points mentioned, would be receivable among Catholiques, or no. His kindnesse and Charity moved him not onely to take the trouble upon him of answering my Questions, but likewise voluntary to publish in print the Questions with his answers, to the end
satisfaction might be given that he had said nothing therein that any Catholique would que∣stion: Which resolutions of his I thought fit to annex to this treatise.
3. Besides all this, for my further information, and because even during my education in Pro∣testancy I had been advised, and was consequent∣ly resolved to embrace those doctrines, which were most conformable to the profession of the Ancient Church, I conceived it necessary to study diligently such Fathers writings especi∣ally as had been forced to maintaine the Churches authority against Heretiques. Thereupon I betook my self to the rending of the Ancient-Church Hi∣story, and besides others, I perused exactly Tertullians Praescriptions against Haeretiques, &c. S. Cyprian, S. Epiphanius, S. Augustines Epistles and treatises against the Donatists, Manichaeans, &c. Vincentius Lyrinensis, S. Hieroms Bookes against the Luciferians, Iovinian and Vigilantius: I had recourse likewise upon occasion to cer∣taine treatises of Saint Basil, and S. Athanasius, S. Hilary, S. Pacian &c. And lastly I judged it an effectuall way of atteining to the understan∣ding the opinion of Antiquity concerning the Church, to select the speciall Texts of Scripture, wherein mention is made of the Church, and to examine how the Fathers interpre∣ted those Texts; and what inferences they drew from them in their Sermons and Com∣mentaries, in which I might be sure they spoke without interest and passion, as having no ad∣versary in sight to combat withall, and therefore were not likely to streine themselves in their expressions. Such Texts of Scripture were these,
and the like, Die Ecclesiae, &c. Tell the Church, and if he will not beare the Church, let him be to thee as a Heathen and a Publican. And, Tu es Pertus, &c. Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it. And, Ecclesiae, quae est firmamentum fidei, &c. The Church which is the ground of Faith, and Pillar of truth, &c.