A brief reply to a late answer to Dr. Henry More his Antidote against idolatry Shewing that there is nothing in the said answer that does any ways weaken his proofs of idolatry against the Church of Rome, and therefore all are bound to take heed how they enter into, or continue in the communion of that church as they tender their own salvation.

The Answer.

This is fine Rhetorick again, and an high boast, as if he could so easily bring the solidity and firmness of my demonstrations to a mere Nullity. Some men build Castles in the Air, and others think they can batter down Castles on the Earth though built on Rocks, al∣though they have nothing but water-squirts or elder∣guns to discharge against them. But it is a pious design he un∣dertakes, as if it were the con∣cern of Souls not to be suffici∣ently heedfull how they com∣mit Idolatry; or as if I could

seek by pernicious wiles to se∣duce them into the ancient pure Apostolick way, unto that faith and practise which was in use and the known way to Heaven before that grand A∣postasy into these gross Idola∣tries seized the Church. And why should any Soul be a∣fraid of being deceived by me, when I show them no other way then what upon a free and impartial search I find to be true and go in my self, driving on no worldly Interest at all in my choice thereof, or in my charity of showing it to o∣thers, I getting not a peny for my pains, nor expecting nor desiring any thing, nay it be∣ing

even according to my Ad∣versaries own acknowledge∣ment, against my worldly In∣terest. But the love of Christ con∣straineth me, as the Apostle speaks, 2 Cor. 5. 14. which extendeth it self to your Church as well as to my own. For He would all men should be saved and leave those ways that lead to eternal death.

Nor would our charge of Idolatry, being true, prove odious to you, but that you hate the light that would con∣vince you, because your deeds are evil. But for drawing any such Charge against my own Church, I am so far from it, that I have clearly Vindicated

her from all suspition of Anti∣christianism, of which Idola∣try is no mean part, at the end of my Synopsis Prophetica. Nor know I what common Mother you and I can have, unless you would become a Convert to the Truth, and forsake all the gross corruptions and Idola∣tries of the Church of Rome. For so we may be both mem∣bers of the ancient Apostolick Church, and Sons of that Jeru∣salem which is above, which is the Mo∣ther of us all, Gal. 4. 26.

And thus I have Answered each Paragraph in my Antago∣nists Preface or Introduction. In my Replies to his Answers I shall not always covet to set

down his Text so intire, For it would swell the Volume in∣to too big a bulk; but for both shortness and perspicuity dis∣enveloping what pretended strength of Argument there may be, from the manifold heterogeneous humours and strains of Art and Rhetorick, I shall bring the bare edge of his Objections against my Anti∣dote and then Reply to them, which I suppose will be less tedious to the Reader. For if I should bring in such things as are not essential to the Cause, I must also be so impertinent as to Answer them, and so we shall make so long a story of it betwixt us that the Reader

may fall asleep before he gets half way, which is ordinarily the fate of these Books of An∣swers and Replies.

But this Volume consisting of the Text of my Antidote, each Chapter being prefixt before his Answers to the Con∣clusions or Paragraphs of them, and my Replies set under each Answer, I hope it may prove as little tedious, and it may be more pleasant than if I had done all along as some do in their own Treatises, raise Ob∣jections at the end of each Chapter, or upon each Point, and so Answer them.

And I will assure thee, Rea∣der, that with all possible

faithfulness and to my best skill I have represented the utmost strength of his Answers where I have not brought his Text intire. Of which if thou hast any doubt, his Book is not great so that thou maist satis∣fie thy scrupulosity at a very reasonable rate.

As for his harsh language to me, I very seldom take notice of it in my Replies, nor will I here concern my self to col∣lect any specimens of it. For I have no mind to quarrel but onely to defend the Truth, let people reproach my Person as they please, and am at perfect peace with my Adversary, even while I am inforced to enter

this Combate with him. Of which I desire thee, Reader, to be a diligent and impartial Spectator. For there is not a more material point can be controverted, nor of greater necessity throughly to be un∣derstood, than this charge of Idolatry upon the Church of Rome.