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.

Reflection. IV.

MY fourth and last Reflection, is upon his me∣thod and way of proceeding, as being both disorderly and unconclusive; for had he had a mind to have proceeded solidly in a dispu∣tation about points of Religion, it being a thing of the greatest importance that may be, he ought rather to have laid down some principle felf-evi∣dent; or as they say in Schools, per se notum, as a foundation to build his discourse on, and to have nominated also a Judg to determine whatsoever should be controverted betwixt them, and not to run and chase from one thing to another with∣out fixing upon any thing certain, or able to de∣cide the thing in Controversie: for to any ratio∣nal Person it must needs appear, that it will prove both an unprofitable and endless disputati∣on, when one Party says one thing, the other quite another, without being first agreeed upon some one Principle, or Rule to be directed by. Now had this learned Disputant assigned any such Rule, or Judg to give judgment in behalf of

what he had objected against the Catholick Reli∣gion, it would have been either allowed of, or disallowed by his Adversary; and if allowed of, the business would have come to a fair and speedy Tryal; or else if he had required this from the Desendant, and disproved of what he had nomi∣nated to decide the difference betwixt them, then might he with credit have endeavoured to de∣stroy such a power; and with the same blow like∣wise the whole Fabrick of the Catholick Religi∣on; for if we do not know whether a line, or a piece of wood be streight or crooked, but by applying a Rule unto it, by which we may be enabled to judg of its st••eightness or crokedness; how can he with any show of reason or justice pretend to write against a setled and antient Re∣ligion, and argue it of falshood, without first proposing something whereby its errours and falshood may be discerned: but this must not be the dead Letter of Scripture; for we know Arrians impugned the Divinity of our Saviour Christ; and with far more plausible Quotations and Texts out of Scripture than he can produce for the Protestant Religion; neither must it be Scripture interpreted by the private spirit, for by that the Quakers would easily defend them∣selves, and oppose all others: from which Hold Protestants are not able to drive them, but by making use of those very arguments which Catho∣licks use against Protestants: nor lastly, must it be any thing that is only probable, conjectural, or uncertain; for the same uncertainty and dan∣ger of erring, or of being false, it hath within it self, the very same must it of necessity have and retain in judging any Controversie, and its judgments or decisions will be equally exposed and

subject to errour; so that to pass sentence be∣twixt two Religions, evincing the one of fal∣shood and the other of truth; there is of neces∣sity required an infallible Rule to go by; a cer∣tain Guide for direction, and unerring Judg to give sentence, without which there can no be infal∣libility or certainty of truth in this Decision. I easily foresee what Mr. S. F. will object against this, that it either equally touches both Parties, or else it doth not at all concern him. For the prevention of which evasion I answer, that he being the Oponent, and undertaking to write against a Religion maintained by its Professours to be infallibly true, cannot in reason seek to overthrow it, unless by arguments and reasons, which are manifest and certainly convincing: who therefore shall be the Judg of this? himself that were unreasonable, unless he will pretend to have the gi••t of infallibility bestowed upon him; he ought therefore to submit them to the examina∣tion and judgment of something infallibly able to judge of them, and determine the business; and if he leaves it to the Catholicks nomination, he might both complain of partiality, and expect to have them retorted upon himself, at least if he will be so daring, it ought to be by his own free election; so that the obligation lies wholly upon himself. Indeed in his Papers he speaks of an infallible Rule, conformable unto which he re∣quires that our Proofs be, and then he will be of our Religion; but to keep himself out of this danger; and because he dares not stand to the judgment and determination of it, being already assured that he shall bring a staff to his own head, and find his Religion to be disagreeable unto it: he tells us not what this infallible Rule is; nor can I

imagine what he means by it, if he will stick to the Protestant Principles, for Scripture alone it cannot be, for the reasons I have given before, Traditions they will not allow of; Councels they reject, and to the Fathers they grant not so much Authority; so that although now and then they pick out some sentences out of them, yet they hold them not at all to be decisive, but take and leave them at their pleasure, just as Mr. S. F hath done in his rejoynder, where he quotes St. Gregory in his 9 hom. upon Ezekiel, for the suffi∣ciency of Scripture; and produces a saying of that holy Father indiscreetly spoken, and making nothing at all for his purpose, as will appear hereafter; and all along never takes notice of the difficulty of understanding it; of which St. Gregory Treats ex professo; nor how he recon∣ciles grace and merit, of both which he dis∣courses at large; the consideration of which if Mr. S. F. had been so disposed, would have clearly convinced him what St. Gregory's belief was in these particulars; and although he hath picked some other sayings out of the same Fa∣ther, which he perswades himself upon the same mistake, will work wonders, yet if he would be but content that he should decide the things in Controversie, and resolve us what his belief was in those particulars, or any thing else that is controverted betwixt us and the Protestants, he would find (as you shall presently see) that even in those places which Mr. S. F. tells you, are evidently opposite to the Catholick Religion, and agreeable to that of the Church of England, that they either make nothing at all for his pur∣pose, or else that they absolutely conclude against him.