The orthodox faith and vvay to the Church explaned and iustified in answer to a popish treatise, entituled, White died blacke; wherein T.W. p. in his triple accusation of D. White for impostures, vntruths, and absurd illations, is proued a trifler: and the present controuersies betweene vs and the Romanists are more fully deliuered and cleared. By Francis White Bachelour in Diuinitie, and elder brother of Doctor Iohn White.

Vntruth 23. Concerning conuersion of Countries.

T. W. Conuersion of Heathen countries to the faith of Christ, foretold so long since by the Prophets of God, to be ac∣complished onely in the true Church of Christ, Doctor White affirmeth, to haue beene done by that Church which conspi∣red in faith and doctrine with the Protestants, and not by the Church of vs Catholikes.

Answ. 1. Conuersion of Countries to the faith of Christ intirely professed, is proper to the true Church. But it may happen that a corrupt Church, which holdeth not the faith intirely throughout, but erreth in some par∣cels thereof, may conuert Heathens; and this conuersion

shall be mixed; in some things to true Faith, in other to erronious beleeuing: like as diseased parents when they procreate children, doe together with their nature and kind propagate hereditarie sicknesse. And thus the Ecclesiasticall Storie reporteth, that the Arrians conuer∣ted the Gothes to Christianitieo 1.1. It is therefore false which you affirme, that conuersion of Heathen coun∣tries is onely accomplished by the true Churchp 1.2, vnder∣standing by true Church, a societie of Christians, teach∣ing incorrupt doctrine in all points.

2. In reporting Doctor Whites speech, you doe ac∣cording to your maner omit part thereof: He affirmeth, that diuers Heathen countries; to wit, the Indians, Hi∣berians, Burgundiansq 1.3, &c. were conuerted by other Churches, and not by the Roman; and then, that none of those ancient conuersions made 1000. yeares since, were to the present Roman faith consisting of Suprema∣cy, transubstantiation, traditions, &c. but to the Catho∣like and Orthodoxe faith of the primitiue Church.

T. W. It is confessed by Protestants, that the Romane Church hath been Antichristian more then a thousand yeares, and that the true Orthodoxe Church hath bene latent all this time, &c.

Answ. I haue before in the proper placer 1.4, where these things were obiected, made answer.

T. W. 2. The Protestant Church, by the confession of Castalio a learned Caluinist, &c. and Dauid George neuer wrought any conuersion, neither hath that appeared in the Protestant church which the Prophets foretold, of the enlarge∣ment of the Church, and conuersion of Nations thereby: and Castalio thereupon deemeth those prophesies to be as yet not fulfilled.

Answ. 1. The Protestants haue conuerted many Na∣tions from dumbe Idols, 1. Cor. 12.2. and from grosse su∣perstition, not much inferior to the impiety of heathens: and thus according to the Prophets, Esa. 2.20. they haue beene Gods instruments in a notable and welnigh mira∣culous conuersion.

2. They haue their share in all the precedent and anci∣ent conuersion of Heathens by former Churches, by reason of consanguinitie of their doctrine with them.

3. Castalio, whom you instile a Caluinist* 1.5; saying, that many propheticall predictions are not performed; meaneth such predictions as concerne the Church in ge∣nerall, whereof the triumphant is a part. Many things vt∣tered by the Prophets, touching the glorie and happines of the Church, Are but in semine, and plantation, in the Church militant, and shall receiue their perfection and glorious consummation in the life to come.

4. Dauid Georges 1.6 affirmed himselfe to be the Messias, and was a blasphemous wretch: and yet as bad as he was your friend Briarlyt 1.7 and you belye him. The ground of his heresie was not as you say, that because the predicti∣ons of the Prophets touching the enlargement of the Church and conuersion of Nations were not fulfilled, therefore the Messias was not come: but he inferrethu 1.8, that the Apostles doctrine was imperfect, because it con∣tinued not purely in the succeeding Church, and because the frame of Religion which they had erected, was euer∣ted and ruined.

Notes

• o 1.1

  Socrat. hist. l 4. ca. 27. Sozom. hist. l. 6. c. 37. Freculph. chron. to. 2. l. 4. c 20.
• p 1.2

  Bellar. de ec∣cles. l 4. c. 12. Bosius de sig. l. 4. c 1.
• q 1.3

  Socrat. hist. l. 1 c. 19. Sozom. hist. l. 2. c. 24. Niceph hist. l. 14. c. 40.
• r 1.4

  To the 19. vntruth.
• * 1.5

  Briarly tr. 1. §. 10.
• s 1.6

  Thuan. hist. to. 2. lib. 12. Mellif. histor. part 3. pag. 451. Stapl. Prompt. cath. p. 2. fest. Petri & Paul. pag. 155.
• t 1.7

  Briarly pa. 308.
• u 1.8

  Hist. Dauid. Georg. Holland. per Rector. & Academ. Basil. to. 3. Germ. &c. artic. 8. Si Apo∣stolorum & Christi doctrina, vera illa & perfecta fuisset: Ecclesia quoque quam sua doctrina ex∣citatunt & firmarunt necessario permansisset, neque perijsset. Quia aduersus ecclesiam ne orci quidem portae praeualent. Iam vero constat per quosdam, apostolorum doctrinam & structuram funditus euersam esse, ex quo consequitur necessario apostolorum doctrinam & aedificationem, mancam & imperfectam fuisse.