I. Question: Why are you a Catholic? The answer follows. II. Question: But why are you a Protestant? An answer attempted (in vain) / written by the Reverend Father S.C. Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict ...

About this Item

Title: I. Question: Why are you a Catholic? The answer follows. II. Question: But why are you a Protestant? An answer attempted (in vain) / written by the Reverend Father S.C. Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict ...
Author: Cressy, Serenus, 1605-1674.
Publication: London :: [s.n.],; 1686.
Rights/Permissions: To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms: Catholic Church.; Protestantism -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34972.0001.001
Cite this Item: "I. Question: Why are you a Catholic? The answer follows. II. Question: But why are you a Protestant? An answer attempted (in vain) / written by the Reverend Father S.C. Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34972.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 4, 2025.

Pages

§. 49.

Cath.

This Observation, made by the infamous Apostate you named, if rightly considered, truly seems to argue a guilt somewhere; yet not in the Church, but much rather in those who seperated from her. For it strongly argues, that, since, to oppose her, they made choice only of those Points which regarded the Honour, Authority and Wealth of the Clergy; the true Motives inducing them to rebel against the Church, were, not any zeal for Truth, or care for their Souls (for they acknowledg her Orthodox, as to all Points of Doctrine approved by former Heretics.) That therefore which stirred up their rage a∣gainst her was Envy, Hatred of Obedience, and a thirst unquenchable to rob her of the Treasure and Possessions conferred on her by the Piety

Page 36

of their Holy Progenitours. Now Sir, tell me sincerely, If you were to establish a Church, would you take for your pattern that Schismati∣cal King Ieroboam, who chose Priests from the dreggs of the People; or* 1.1 God himself, who instituted a splendid Clergy?

Prot.

It cannot indeed be denied, but that contemptible, needy and depending Directours of Souls will but very meanly discharge so high an Office as Christ has committed to them, having made them Spiritual Iudges of Mankind, and stiled them the Light of the world,* 1.2 and the Salt of the Earth.

Notes

* 1.1

1 Kin. 12.

Back to content
* 1.2

Mat. 5. 13. 14.

Back to content