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.

A Letter sent to N. •• concerning the Reply made unto the Answer of his brief note.

Sir,

HAd not Divine Providence (as you say it dealt with you) appointed me to a great Indisposition of body, you had long since re∣ceived a Rejoynder to your Reply: and now it comes into the World as Ichabod did, being the Issue of an hasty Travail; though I have not yet in∣joyed the date you used in replying (which in Equi∣ty should have been granted) yet some Philistins, that defie the Truths of the everliving God, begin to triumph, as if my pen was struck dumb by yours.

To silence these, that it may not be told in Gath, nor Published in the streets of Askalon, that there is any weakness in the Cause maintain∣ed, or difficulty in the Work to be done by me, it anticipates my recovery, and comes forth be∣fore

my health affords me the liberty and op∣portunity, of taking that serious view of your Reply, and of the Authors to whom you send me, which I desired to bestow vpon them.

By that hasty Perusal I have made, I find your Reply speaking this Truth, spes est rei incertae no∣men; it is so far from being satisfactory to me (as you hoped) that it hath mightily confirmed me in my judgment, against the Cause maintained by you, and made me to fall somewhat, in my good Opinion of your Person; giving me occa∣sion to think, that you are a man that will do and speak any thing, for the advancing of your own Interest; because you bring many heavy Charges against me, for which you have no more reason, than the man had for his Conceit, who thought his Body to be made of glasse, which was only the working of his disturbed Brain.

1. You accuse me of Impertinency; but this is very impertinently done by you, because you have not shewed, how and wherein my answer hath run beyond the limits of your Queries.

2. You charge me with reviling and exaspera∣ting Language; but because you have not (as I am sure you could not do) directed the Reader, to one reviling and exasperating word given by me, it perswades me to believe, that in this you did but imitate the man in the Comedy, who when he met with his Adversary, cryed out against him, O damned Villain, because he had nothing else to say.

3. You inveigh against our common People, terming them an illiterate Rabble, detained by us in Ignorance, on purpose to keep them pos∣sessed with a Prejudice against your Religion; but of all the men in the world, you have least

Reason to object this against us; because while you accuse us, you condemn your selves; you train up your People as Faulkoners doe Hawkes, keeping them constantly Hoodwinked, lest the light of Truth should shine into their understand∣ings.

4. You accuse me of Scolding and Brawling, but whether you or I do bewray most the true Genius of a Scold, let the indifferent Judge deter∣mine; when he finds who is most guilty of rail∣ing Language, of needless Repetitions, of multi∣tudes of words used to no purpose; which are the natural productions of Scolds.

If you be offended at my Similitudes, you dis∣cover your Ignorance of the nature of that kind of Illustration, nulla similitudo currit quatuor pe∣dibus: do but take them in that purpose, for which they are used by me, and do not apply the remaining part to your self any more than I do, and you will find Reason forbidding you to fume at the use of them.

The Cause that I do maintain, scorns the help of such rotten Supports as these, and leaves them to be used by those, who do maintain a Cause, that is like unto a Cripple; who, because he wants the Strength of natural Legs, is glad to creep on any fashion, and to make use of wooden legs to go on.

Truth will stand by its own native strength a∣gainst all Opposition; though the raines of As∣persions do fall, and the floods of false Accusati∣ons do come; yea though the Winds of Persecu∣tions do blow and beat against it; yet (being founded upon the Rock) it will not fall, but accor∣ding to the sentence of those Judges, that were to determine what was strongest, magna est veritas & praevalebit.