Exomologesis, or, A faithfull narration of the occaision and motives of the conversion unto Catholick unity of Hugh-Paulin de Cressy, lately Deane of Laghlin &c. in Ireland and Prebend of Windsore in England now a second time printed with additions and explications by the same author who now calls himself B. Serenus Cressy, religious priest of the holy order of S. Benedict in the convent of S. Gregory in Doway.

CHAP. XIX.

What prejudice the Author received by receiving the doctrine of the Roman Churches Authority express'd in School-language.

Successe of his enquiry into Councels and ancient Fathers.

1. THe answering of the Questions, and es∣pecially the perusing of those bookes was the businesse of a good space of time, a∣bove twelve moneths, or more. The exces∣sive paines and diligence employed by mee, which otherwise would have brene tedious, was much sweetned by the discovery every day of new light. And I could not but observe the strange effects of education and prejudice, which made me believe my selfe to be sapara∣ted in my beliefe from the Catholique Church at a distance unmeasurable, when indeed I was even at the doores: and I am certaine I had been much sooner a Catholique, if I had thought or rather indeed if I had considered

(for if I had considered it well I might have found sufficient ground to think so) that the beliefe of the Churches doctrines nakedly as she proposeth them, and in the latitude allowed by her, had beene sufficient to have gained that title. But I tooke those to be the necessary do∣ctrines of the Catholique Church, which were onely the private opinions and expressions of particular Doctors, And the simplicity of the Articles of Christian Faith was clowded by Scholasticall Metaphysicall tearms, which being ab∣struse, nice, and unknown to Antiquity rendred the doctrines themselves obscure and withall new and suspected to me.

2. And all this by a very pardonable fault of mine: For from whom should I receive the doctrines of the Roman Church when a Contro∣versie is raised, but from the learnedst Masters of Controversie? And how few among them propose the points to be disputed between them and the Protestants in the language of the Church? Besides how few among them are there, who in disputing will allow that la∣titude which the Church apparently does? There is scarce any Point of Controversie, which is not severally interpreted, streitned, or enlarged by severall Catholiques of severall Orders and education: and most of them in confuting the Protestants seeme very earnest and make it almost their whole designe to im∣pose their particular interpretations and ex∣pressions for Catholique doctrines. But with very little or no successe: For a Protestant will be very ready, and may with good reason say,

Though by being perswaded by you I shall be∣come

a Roman Catholique, yet I might deny all that you maintaine, and yet be a Roman Catholique too, for I can produce Authors which you dare not deny to be good Catho∣liques, that will not receive nor subscribe to your expression and stating of this Point: Therefore seek to convert them first, and then come and dispute with me: Dispute like a Catholique, for the question is not now whe∣ther I shall be a Dominican, Jesuite, Scotist, &c. But whethe I ought to be a Catholique, or no.

The truth is by these meanes, disputa∣tions are endlesse, Catholiques themselves afford∣ing answers and objections to Protestants a∣gainst Catholiques. Whereas if particular Con∣trovertists as were indulgent as the Church is, & would be content to thinke that the termes wherein Shee expressed her minde were the most proper, their adversaries would quickly be silenced, Controversies abated, and, by Gods assistance, union in a short time happily re∣stored.

3. The great ha••me which I received by judging of the Churches Faith by particular new expressions of it, puts me into this fit of liberty in censuring thus far the method of those men by whom I have been so long a time so far from being perswaded, that I was rather hin∣dred from my reunion to the Church: And on the contrary, this happy successe in following the direction of some few Catholique authours, who separating particular opinions of Doctors from necessary Catholique Doctrines, and ur∣ging nothing upon me, but without assenting to which, I could not be a Catholique, makes me

judge by mine own experience as well as rea∣son, that that which healed me of my errours and Schism, would not by Gods blessing want the same effect in others also, especially among English Protestants; ••nd the rather if (follow∣ing the advice of the most Reverend the Lord Archbishop of Roven, ) Protestants, in stead of wearying themselves with perticular de∣bates, would resolve this in the first place, why they made the Schism at first, and continue in it still: What dispensation they have from the authority and unity of the Church, so unani∣mously and affectionately reverenced and o∣beyed by the ancient Fathers?

4. I cannot without ingratitude, in this place and occasion omit a profession of that great ob∣ligation I have with thankfulnesse to almighty God, and respect to his happy instrument, to acknowledge the efficacious influence that one Treatise in speciall manner had to the furthe∣rance and facilitating of my Conversion, writ∣ten in French by that skilfull and authorized Controvertist, Francis Veron Doctor of Di∣vinity, and entituled by him Reiglè generale de la foy Catholique: In which he delivers the pure Catholique Doctrine in the words of the Councells, streined and separated from all particular opinions or authorities not absolute∣ly obliging. And this exemplified throughout almost all the considerable points of Contro∣versie, bewteen Catholiques and the severall Sects of Protestants. Which method of pro∣ceeding is approved by several learned Doctors of the Faculty of P••••is, and the generall de∣signe

of it by his late Holinesse Gregory the fifth, as was signified to the Author by his Nephew Cardinall Ludovisi••; yea God himself hath approved and recommended the same Me∣thod by his numerous blessings on it in the Conversion of a world of wandering perverted souls. From his ground it is especially that I in this book both take this fashion and Lati∣tude of stating doctrines of faith, & recommend it to others, when they treat with Protestants: And particularly from him did I receive Infor∣mation, that the very expresse terme of Infalli∣bility was not of obligation to be made use of in Disputation concerning the Churches Au∣thority: As likewise that the Doctrines of Faith promulgated by the said Authority in the De∣crees of generall Councells, did admit of many more qualifications and restrictions then po∣pular Controvertists do think good to make use of. So that if in this or any other point any expressions found in this book shall seem new or not so relishing to any, I must refer them to the said Author and his Approvers, who no doubt will ease me of the trouble of making Apologies.

5. But leaving this digression, I will at last relate the successe I found in reading the Canons of the Church, the forementioned books and treatises of the Fathers, &c. Which was, that I thereby gained a distinct knowledge both of the faith of the present Church, and what those Ancients believed concerning the Churches Authority: and this not by relying upon a few select passages and Texts pick'd out by late

Controvertists, but by observing the maine de∣signe and intention of those Fathers, when the very like Controversies in their times con∣streined them to consider and unanimously de∣clare what they themselves thought, and what they had received from their predecessours con∣cerning the Church, Haeresie, and Schisme.

6. That therefore which I learned from them pertinent to my present purpose I will set downe in foure Conclusions, relating to foure principall heads of controversie, namely, 1. Of the Rule of Faith, that is, Scripture and Traditions unwritten. 2. Of the Judge of Controversies, that is, the Catho∣lique Church. 3. Of the unity of the Church and the danger of Heresy & Schisme. 4. Of the perpetuall Vi∣sibility of the Church. To all which Propositions respectively I will adjoyne the doctrine of the present Roman Church, conteined especially in the Councell of Trent; And likewise the beliefe of Protestants; Concluding with an examination whether the Roman or Protestant Churches do best conform themselves to the universal Ancient Tra∣ditiō cōcerning the Church & her authority, &c.

7. When all this is done, at their perill be it, if any imputing to me sinister intentions, of which they cannot be judges, shall say it was either worldly discontent or ambition, and not an evident conviction of truth, and re∣solution to save my soule that moved me finally to declare my selfe rather a follower of that part which, to my understanding, followes an universall and uninterrupted agreement of such Teachers, as both sides agree not only to have approached neerest to the fountaine of truth, Christ and his Apostles, & therefore to have had

meanes of informing themselves in Apostolicall Tradition incomparably beyond us; But also to have been extreamly cautelous and learned, and so not easily obnoxious to be mistaken or deceived, And likewise unquestionably pious and vertuous, and therefore abhorring any in∣tention of seducing others for temporall re∣spects: Rather then three or foure new teachers, in whom there is not only a visible want of all these good qualities, but on the contrary such as have not been able to forbeare to declare them∣selves to be worse men, more polluted with Lust, Gluttony, Sacriledge, Pride, Malice, Envie, &c. then without their own confession their ad∣versaries could with a good conscience have ac∣cused or but suspected them; And the effect of whose innovations ha's manifestly been nothing but Atheisme, profanenesse, bloodshed, confusion and ruine.