The novelty of the modern Romish religion set forth in an answer to three queries propounded by N.G., priest, with a rejoynder to his reply, and a reply to an answer made to three queries propounded unto him : together with animadversions upon some reflexions made by an unknown author ... / written by S.F., M.A. and vicar of Mitton in Craven.

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

THE Apostle James hath told us, That pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, and to keep unspotted from the World; and that the Wisdom which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easie to be intreated, full of Mercy, without Partiality, and without Hypocrisie; what then must be said of the modern Romish Religion, which owns and maintains several treacherous, cruel and bloody Principles, according to which the Practices of the Romanists have been frequently conformed, being trecherous, cruel and bloody? is that pure and from above? Nothing less; but we must con∣clude it to be from beneath, therefore impure, coun∣terfeit, and false.

Yet the great Brags of the Romanists are conti∣nually sounding in our ears, that they have Anti∣quity and Succession for their Religion, and that it has descended unto them through the Current of all Ages, even from the Primitive Times: This is

the main Pillar wherewith they endeavour to support their tottering Religion; and the great Argument they use to prove the Truth, which they injuri••usly claim as pertinent unto it, while they do make this Plea, they think themselves sufficiently armed for Offence and Defence, and do shout for the Battel, assuring themselves Victory over all Opposers.

But when we do demand how they prove their great Brags to be true, they tell us, that the Obligation of proving, does not lie on their side, but it belongs to us to disprove what they say; The greatest Flourish which they make for themselves, is, by propounding of Querie•••• such as my Antagonist hath propounded, and such as cannot certainly be determined either in the Affirmative or the Nega∣tive.

Christian Reader, If thou wert possessed of an Estate in Land, unto which thy Title is pleaded to be Illegal, and that thy Possession was gotten by fraud or violence, thy own natural Reason should advise thee, and to avoid a tedious Suit, Charity should ob∣lige thee (I am sure the Court of Equity will compel thee) to produce thy Evidences, and to shew thy Deeds to make good thy Title; to ask what hour, or what day, or what month, or what year the fraud or the violence was acted, and the intrusion made, will never procure the Verdict of a Jury, and the Sentence of a Judge to justifie the Tenure.

Here thou hast the great Brags of the Roma∣nists examined, and proved to have no strength to produce any effect for their advantage; it is vanity in the Abstract for them to boast of Antiquity and Succession, while th••y want that Religion which was professed by the Primitive Christians, and do own and maintain Doctrines and Practices which were never warranted by Christ or his Apostles, and the Authority of the holy Scriptures.

That my Discourse comes forth in an homely Dress, thou must take this to be the reason; thou canst not expect to find any better fruit than the Tree is able to produce. So many have my Dis∣couragements, and Disadvantages, and Impediments been, that had not several weighty Considerations over-ruled me, I had not appeared in publick after this manner; Providence thought fit to order me to live under a Sacrilegious Popish Patron, whose An∣cestors began, and he continues so great an Aliena∣tion of the Churches Revenues, that the Pittance which is left, is not able to afford a Competency for a convenient Livelihood; for if the Back be cloath∣ed, the Belly grumbles for want of Meat; and if the Belly be filled, the Back complains for want of Cloathing; there is not enough to supply the Neces∣sities of both, so that there is nothing to be spared to purchase a Library, which is a very great help to assist in the course of the Ministry, and in ma∣naging of Controversies with the common Enemy; but if the number of my Books were equal to the Vatican-Library, there is little leisure to be spared for conversing with such Companions, alas, I must spend my time in casting about, and contriving how to proportion my little Barrel of Meal, and to draw out my little Cruise of Oyl to the greatest Advantage, that it may reach to answer the im∣portunate Cravings of those that are concerned to have a share of it.

Help, O Mighty and Religious King, help ye Learned and Pious Bishops; ye wise Senators and Judges of the Nation; suffer not the Patrimony of the Church to be devoured by Popish Laicks, who thirst after our destruction more than the chased Hart pants after the Water-brooks, and would re∣joyce to see that day wherein we should have (if they

might have it so) neither Church nor Being.

If it be said (as the Town-Clerk in the Acts said to Demetrius and his fellow-Craftsmen, The Law is open, and there are Deputies, let them im∣plead one another; I ask whether a Pigmy (though his Cause be never so good) be an equal Match to encounter with a Giant? And is there any hope of Success for him in combating with such an Enemy? Is there no other course to be found to recover the alienated Rights of the Church? Must a poor In∣cumbent, that has not Necessaries for a convenient Livelihood, be forced to contend with a powerful and rich Patron, whose Purse is able to purchase that Elixir that can turn Brass into Gold, and Lead into Silver, and make the most bright shining Cause to appear as a dark Lanthorn: Money is the Queen-Regent, what can it not do? It is said, Pecunia omnia potest; and it is too often known, that the Verdict of a Jury is byassed by the swag∣ging of the Purse; and all do know that the skil∣ful Pleaders of the Law will not open their mouths, to speak in the best Cause, unless their Tongues be gilded with Gold, or tipt with Silver, which the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of an indigent Incumbent is not able to perform.

And what can be expected from one that is thus shattered and broken in his Fortunes? is his dejected, heartless, and therefore unactive Spirit able to produce any thing in relation to Controver∣sies, fit to be presented to the publick view? But these following Considerations over-ruled my dull and backward hand to put my unskilful Pen upon motion; first, That if a Servant have but half a Talent allowed him, he is not to lap it up in a Nap∣kin, and bury it in the Earth, but to employ and improve it to his Master's use. Secondly, That

God accepts of the Will far the Deed, and does not expect that the cock should run more water then is put into the cistern. Thirdly that at the building of Solomons temple, all were not master builders, but there were inferiour Workmen that contributed much to the erecting of that glorious structure; besides all this, the necessity of the People committed to my Charge, required some Armour to defend them∣selves against the Assaults of Romish Agents, there being many such surrounding us on either side, and many such residing within the compass of our Neighbourhood, among whom, my conceited Patro∣ness is one that carries a great sway, and ex∣ceeds for her Activity, to propagate the Romish Religion; whensoever any opportunity falls out, ser∣ving for her purpose, she is ready, not only to strain her Person, but also to send forth her active E∣missaries to fill People with the poysonous Doctrines of the Church of Rome.

Such as the Work is, thou hast it here; thou maist read and judge of it; but while thou dost so, let me intreat thee to lay aside Partiality and Pre∣judice; by which means thou wilt do me less wrong, and thy self more good; though it be not so excel∣lently Cooked, as to please delicate and curious Palats, yet it will afford some good Nutriment to such Stomachs as will content themselves with whol∣som Diet; for such it was designed, and to such it is presented by him, who subscribes himself

The meanest Undertaker in this kind, but according to his power, an Abettor of the Truth, S. F.