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. XVIII.

Importance of the Controversie concerning the Churches authority.

Meanes for satisfaction in it abundantly sufficient in Antiquity.

This Controversie before all others ought to be most diligently studyed by Prote∣stants.

1. PRoceeding therefore for mine owne sa∣tisfaction to read the Fathers upon this argument, and resolving to read them as un∣partially as possibly I could, that is, silencing mine owne understanding, when it would in∣terpose that no discourse or Rhetorique ought to have force against those demonstrations, which I thought I had against the Churches infallibility, or when it would invent forced senses to that world of passages which I found in the Fathers inconsistent with my pre-assumed assurance; Proceeding I say, in the best manner I could to the reading of the Fathers upon this point, I found that as this controversie was of so infinite importance that upon the decision thereof eternall peace or warre in Religion among Christians depended, the most wise and mercifull Providence had suitably furnished us with meanes of satisfaction in so important a point, infinitely more copious, evident and powerfull, then in any other besides: For in other speciall points of Controversie we must be content to informe our selves of the minde

of Antiquity therein onely by particular dis∣persed passages of the Fathers, commonly spo∣ken en passant, they having no occasion ordi∣narily to combate with Heretiques about them: But in this businesse of the Churches authority I found Epistles, Treatises, Bookes, yea vo∣lumnes full of almost no other subject; I found (that I may here before the proper season de∣clare the successe of so many moneths labour) that the maintaining of the authority of the Church against Heretiques alledging onely Scripture as a Rule, and disclaiming all Judges of that Rule but themselves as to themselves, had beene the businesse of many Ages, the prin∣cipall employment of many the learnedst ho∣liest Fathers of the Church: I found that such an authority of the Church had been a Tradi∣tion of all others most Universall, not any one booke of Scripture being so often testified of in Antiquity as this: I found that if this au∣thority of the Church were not to be preserved inviolable, all Synods and Councels that ever were in the Church fell to the ground, yea more, became not only of no validity, but were to be esteemed the most unjust Tyrannicall con∣spiracies that ever were, as presuming without sufficient warrant to accuse and anathematize whosoever opposed or accepted not their de∣terminations even in such points as were not in Scripture at all, or at most onely there in consequence to their interpretation: Lastly, I found to my infinite satisfaction, and for which I thinke my selfe obliged to spend the grea¦test part of my life in glorifying Almighty God for it, a full, effectuall and experimentall

satisfaction by acknowledging this authority, and suffering my selfe to be taken out of my owne hands, to be conducted by her that Christ had appointed for that office; in a word, I found, that that saying of S. Hierome was most true, viz.

That the Sun of the Church present∣ly dryes up all the streames of errour and Schisme.

2. For these reasons I cannot chuse but ad∣jure all Protestants, especially English (who think satisfaction and repose of mind upon earth, and glory to be revealed in heaven to be things desirable) that, omitting, or at least deferring all particular disputes with Catholiques, they would in the first place without prejudice and partiallity examine what the present Catholique Church sayes, and in what words Shee sayes it when Shee comes to declare her necessary doctrine concerning this her authority: and that having found what it is that Shee requires to be believed, they would (without altering her expression, and without applying thereto any particular Schoole-man's or Doctours interpretations, as by an obliging necessity to be subscribed to or received) compare what the Church defines, with what the Fathers & Coun∣cels do generally and purposely agree in: And if this method produce not in them the same effect, which, by the blessing of God, it did in mee, yet at least they will have this content∣ment, after an ingenuous, and, to my knowledge, not-much by them-practised way of examina∣tion, to conclude, that they finde that their owne single judgement and interpretation of Scripture deserves rather to be relyed upon

and to be preferr'd above all manner of visible authority of all persons and ages, how sacred so∣ever esteemed by others; they will either become Catholiques, or remaine in their own (then not very unreasonable opinion) Protestants still, but persons meriting from themselves the highest esteem for infallibility that the Church ever enjoyed since the Apostles times.