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 Conclusion.

I Have now answered all the objections pretend∣ed, to be taken out of St. Gregory without any farther examine or search into the nature of either his Queries, Answers, or the rest of his Rejoynder, further than as I have briefly touch∣ed upon them in my Reflections, hoping they will prove rational and satisfactory enough; cons∣dering besides, that the greatest part of the Controversie (excepting the arguments out of St. Grogory) was come to be rather concerning Historical Reports than matters of Faith: In∣deed,

as touching what I have said in answer to the objections out of St. Gregory; I was the more easily perswaded unto it, because, there at least, I saw something to build upon, which was the authority of that holy Father, whom he seemed to be willing to submit unto as a Judg, because he had often promised not a wrested in∣terpretation of the sence, but evident proofs out of the Father's own words; so much authority did he seem to allow the holy Doctor; but one may presume it was only in those particulars, wherein he thought ••e had him sure, or at least that he could have perswaded some body or other to such a belief; and yet I had no reason to be∣lieve he would submit to him, even in those, since all along he had treated his Disciple St. Austin so irreverently, although by his Brethren, Dr. God∣win, Mr. Holinshead, Mr. Mason, Mr. Fox, Dr. Bilson, and others, he is honoured with Title of Apostle of England, and acknowledged to be a Monk of great virtue: and even he him∣self at the same time, does suppose that S. Austin converted England to the faith of Christ, and was of the same Religion which his Master Pope Gregory professed, and which he would gladly prove to have been this of the Church of En∣gland: observe now how well these things hang together. In answering his objections, I have studied rather brevity than multiplicity of rea∣sons; making it only my designed Task, which I wish the Reader to take notice of) to shew the true sence and meaning of S. Gregory's words, and how agreeable, if rightly understood, they are to the Catholick Doctrine, and disagreeable to that of the Church of England, which is all that any one in reason can expect in such circumstan∣ces;

this being absolutely opposite to what Mr. S. F. had undertaken, and yet not by a wrested interpretation of the sence, but by evident proofs out of S. Gregory; so that should I have brought many proofs from elsewhere, as I might have done very easily, it would rather have seemed a work of superfluity, than any ways necessary, or to the purpose, by which he may see the weakness of his arguments, and how easily he is confuted & foiled, even by those very weapons wherewith thought not only to have defended himself, but he also to have destroyed all round about him. The thing in controversie being at present, not whether those assertions were true or false; but whether S. Gregory held them or no; for this reason therefote, and for a final prevention of all farther cavilling shifts, and evasions which might be made, I have ••••ther argued ad hominem, as the School-men term it, and shew'd (besides the genuine inter∣pretation of S. Gregory▪s words) even by the confession and testimony of many of the best Pro∣testant Writers; what was his doctrine and be∣lief in those particulars; because an argument drawn from the confession of Adversaries, is the most convincing proof against the adversary him∣self; his testimony as Dr. Whitaker saith, being effectual against himself. But I must needs con∣fess, I do not so much wonder he should of his own accord undertake such a task, as to prove evidently that S. Gregory was a Protestant out of his own works, without any wresting of the sence, which yet is a very bold attempt, because such a bravado as that might possibly proceed from an over great zeal and affection he bare to his own cause, through inadvertency or passion, as it hapned to the Preacher at Pauls Cross, as

that which after deliberation and study upon it, he should not then at least see how weakly he h••d acquitted himself of it; but on the contrary should still cry out upon his Adversary to give judgment, as obliged by convincing arguments, and speak once according to the truth, and not according to the groundless affection he bare to his own cause, whether or no it be not clear, that S. Gregory in these particulars held not the same with the Doctrine of the Church of England; to bring which about he'el make Pope Gregory even un Pope himself; a shrewd displeasure I promise you; and far more cruel than John Bi∣shop of Constantinople, who opposed S. Gregory was; for though he stood in contention with S. Gregory, yet he never endeavoured to make him to act this cruelty upon himself; besides after all this, he complains heavily against his Adversary, as well as he hath done since of others, that they will not set forth a charge against him, as if he had been secure of being detected, either of ••al∣sifications, or of being found to have failed in any of his undertakings; whilst attempting to maintain so many errours as he has done, and that in full view; the method that he hath followed hath been very inconclusive; his arguments weak∣ness of reasoning, and his reasons inconsequent: and after this insincerity, must necessarily endea∣vour to establish such a groundless Fabrick, which once discovered there is no way left but to fall to open contradictions, wrested interpretations, and inexcusable falsifications; and last of all for s••curing h••mself to puzle the Reader with wor∣dish cavils and exceptions.

I have done therefore, but whether this little which I have said be satisfactory or no, is not

mine to decide, but is wholly submitted to the tribunal of the judicious and rightly informed Reader, whose pardon I beg for the se••ming harshness and severity of some expressions, which truly sound ungratefully to my own ears; but I desire it may be considered, that since it fell to my lott to be the examiner of such a tough piece, full of many more faults than I have given names to; 'twas nothing but rational in maintenance of the truth, and to undeceive the Reader, to call some of them by their own proper names, though I have done it as little as possibly I could, and only to breed in the Reader a true conceit and reflection upon the substantial part of the Con∣troversie, not in the least reflecting either upon the person, or quibbles, and exceptions, and cavils, that are frequently enough to be found in it.

This is all that I have to Apologize for, except∣ing only for the long delay of this, which truly was occasioned for no other reason, but because it was conceived, that time and absence might wean him, or at least make him less fond in the opinion he seemed to have of his own productions; but this not prevailing against his importunities, you have here an hasty product, and consequent∣ly subject perhaps to some critical exceptions in words, but yet such an one as may afford a suf∣ficient satisfaction, either to Mr. S. F. if he will but seriously consider it, or at least to the judi∣cious and indifferent Reader.