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. VII.

A Scruple suggested to my minde, viz. To the Communion of what Church I should adhere upon supposition that the Church of England should faile.

1. NOt long after this there was, I know not how, suggested to my understan∣ding a thought, which I could not at pleasure si∣lence, and which interrupted much my extreame eagernesse of reading; it was this, A supposition being made that it should please Almighty God to put a period to the Church and Ecclesiasticall govern∣ment in England, to what Churches Communion I should then adjoyne my selfe!

2. It was not any reason I had to dispayre of the Kings condition that occasioned such an in∣quiry (for at this time he was in a state to dis∣pute upon even termes the victory with his enemies) nor any jealousie of the truth of the English Religion: But knowing that the English Church, considered as distinct not only from the Roman, but from all other Sects in se∣paration likewise from it, was not, nor ever pretended to be either indefectible or infalli∣ble: Nay more, considering that the Ec∣clesiasticall government in England depended absolutely upon the firmnesse or weaknesse of the Kings authority there, by whose absolute power only and according to whose interests it was framed at first; And perceiving but too well that for many yeares there had been a powerfull, malicious, contriving faction of Calvinists, e∣qually

enemies to Monarchy and Episcopall Government (as they have given proofe to the full) and which had intruded themselves and were generally incorporated both into the infe∣riour Cleargy, Universities, chiefe Bourgeosies, and places of Judicature, whose designe received from their forefathers it had been to omit no occasion to ruine both the civill and Ecclesiasti∣call State, whereto the whole Kingdome of Scotland would be sure to give their brotherly assistance: Lastly, being assured that the maine thing, and to me the most considerable advan∣tage which the English Church had above all others pretending to a Reformation, namely a succession and authority of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall Orders received from the Roman Church, was never confidently and generally taught in England to be of divine right, and by consequence tooke no firme rooting in the con∣sciences of English subjects; Upon which ground I easily foresaw that though perhaps ma∣ny would adventure far to support the Reall au∣thority, yet if ever the title of Episcopall Juris∣diction should be separated from the Rights of the King, there would but very few appeare that would hazard their fortunes or lives for that which though they preferred infinitely before the Presbyterian Tyranny, yet they had never been taught that it was an essentiall con∣dition of a Church. Yea on the contrary they had seen both King and Cleargy, and generally the whole Kingdome looke upon the Calvinist and Lutheran Churches, as brethren of the same Religion in substantialls, sending Bi∣shops and other Ecclesiastiques to sit with them

in their Synods, maintaining their quarrells, commending their principall Authors, harbou∣ring, releeving and preferring their exiles, In a word, upon the title of Brotherhood assisting them with treasure and forces in their Rebellions.

3. Upon such grounds as these, considering the unsure foundation of the English Church, I thought it not unreasonable to spend some thoughts upon that enquiry, viz. To what Churches Communion I should adjoyne my selfe upon supposition that the English Church should come to sayle. I thought my self the rather obliged to pur∣sue such a provisionary enquiry, because I remem∣bred that M. Hooker, one of the most learned ju∣dicious writers that ever that Church had upon such grounds as are before mentioned, especial∣ly having an eye unto the sacrilegious spirit of Calvinisme, his great and almost Propheticall prudence, (for Prudentia est quaedam divinatio) Corn. Nep. in vit. Pompou. Attice. In those very bookes which he wrote to defend the Church, said that the English Church was in probability a Church not to continue above fourescore yeares at most. Hooker Eccl. Pol. lib. 5. Sect. 79.