S. Pauls confession of faith, or, A brief account of his religion by William Lord Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh.

PREFACE TO THE READER.

SInce the Preaching of the ensuing Sermon, I find that both it, and the Author have undergone various Cen∣sures; some object Ʋnseasonableness against it, and o∣thers Disloyalty; and for this reason, being not willing to lie under that Imputation; and being conscious to my self, that I never entertain'd so much as a disloyal thought, I am re∣solved the Sermon shall shift for it self: But I am a little more concern'd to satisfy the World, as to its seasonableness; because even some of my Friends seem unsatisfied. What needed you, say they, meddle with such a Subject? why at this time? Could you not let things run quietly? and be content to preach (if you must be preaching) the Prin∣ciples and Motives of and to a good Life, without med∣ling with Controversies and Disputes?

I must confess, if those Principles, against which I preach'd, had no influence on mens Lives, or were not pernicious to their Souls, I should be of their Opinion; but being convin∣ced of both, this alone is sufficient for justifying what I have done. But I am resolved to be ingenious with the World, and discover the true Motives that put me on this Subject. I found that one of the Clergy of Dublin, though a very loyal person, for his imprudent medling with the State,

had been justly suspended by his Diocesan; and that the Peo∣ple (who seldom know or consider the true causes of things) thought this Punishment was imposed on him, for arguing for our Religion; the tender sense they have for that, put them into mighty Fears and Despondencies, and made them reflect upon the Clergy; as if they must either decline the Defence of the Truth, which they value above their Lives, or be si∣lenc'd: I easily saw what ill effects such Surmises might pro∣duce: and although several private Clergymen said enough to satisfie the people of the falseness of the Conclusion they drew from that accident; yet seeing them still dissatisfied, I consider'd, to remove their Jealousies, was a work proper for one of an higher Degree in the Church; and being invited to preach at St. Warbroughs, where there is generally a very full Auditory; I was glad of the opportunity of dis∣charging my Duty, and satisfying the People, and convincing many Roman Catholicks, who were then present to spy out our Liberty, that we had, and would take the same liberty as ever to defend our own Religion, and to shew the Falshood of theirs; and I have some reason to believe, that what I then delivered had a good effect on their minds, both as to the Government, and the Clergy.

But I must further tell these Gentlemen, That whatever policy may seem to be in being silent at this time; it is too mean, and has too much of the World in it ever to be ex∣pected from a Clergyman, especially it cannot from a Bi∣shop, whose very Consecration obliges him to preach and drive away all Erronious and False Doctrine contrary to Gods Word, and both privately and openly to call upon, and incourage others to the same: such we believe the Doctrines of the present Church of Rome to be: and while we do so, it is not to be expected that any worldly conside∣ration should prevail with us to be silent; our Vows ob∣lige us to the contrary; and the Charity which we owe to the Souls of Men is a farther tie upon us to warn them of the danger they bring on themselves by listning to such

Doctrines, or persevering in them, though they have embrac'd them.

We are perswaded our silence in this case would prejudice our own People against Ʋs, and the Truth, and flatter our Adversaries with hopes of our going over to them, and so confirm them in their pernicious Errors; Let who so will hold such Errors, Truth is Truth, and must be defended: And if the Romanists will but do as they would be done by, they cannot take this ill at our hands; especially, while we have not only the Law on our sides, but also the Word of that King (who is famous for having never broken it) to defend our Religion: and if they be angry for this, we cannot help it. Truth is dearer to us, then their favour.

We look on the Supremacy of the Pope, and his unjust Ʋsurpation over Kings, and his fellow Bishops, as the funda∣mental Article of Popery: and it is required by the second Canon of the Curch of Ireland of every Preacher to the ut∣most of his Wit, Knowledge, and Learning, to preach a∣gainst it four times a year: And the twelfth Canon further requires, That the Ministers in all their Preachings, &c. shall teach the People to place their whole trust and consi∣dence in God, and not in Creatures, neither in the Habit or Scapular of any Frier, or in Hallowed Beads, Medals, Relicks, or such like Trumperies. And while these Canons stand in force, we will, we must do our duty according to them; and the Government would have just reason to take notice of us if we should omit it: And till I seer better rea∣sons then I have yet heard, I must think my Sermon a very seasonable intimation of our resolution of being true & steady to our Laws, Oaths and Duties, and that it will be impossible to withdraw us from those Principles of Religion which we pro∣fess, and upon strict and diligent examination know, not on∣ly to be true, but necessary also, even in such a degree as to concern the Salvation of Mankind.

And let the Romanists take it as they please, they must expect a great many such, and blame themselves that this

does now appear in print: Because the false representation they made of what was then said hath made this publication of it necessary; and these two following Letters written to me on that occasion hath convinced me of that necessity.

My very good Lord,

YOur Lordships late Sermon, preach'd at St. War∣broughs Church in Dublin, has given me an occasion of representing the several Censures upon it to your Lord∣ship, and withal of freely communicating my thoughts to you concerning it. The Gentlemen, who would pass for the only Catholicks in the world, censure it as disloy∣al, and tending to Sedition; the Phanaticks are offended because you boldly tell them the truth, and lay the blame of our present misfortunes (where 'tis justly chargeable) at their doors: and there is a third sort of men, whom I may call the Politicians of the age, that do not con∣demn, but only censure some things in it as unseasonable, and not fit to be spoken in these times.

It was my misfortune not to be present at the Delivery of it; but however, upon the experience of above thirty years acquaintance with your Lordship, I can vouch as much for your Loyalty as my own, and do really in my Conscience acquit you from any design of insluencing the People; and when I reflect upon the saying of St. Paul, Gal. 1.10. If I please men, I should not be the Servant of Christ. I am well assured, you discharged a good Consci∣ence towards God; because you have been so little folli∣citous to study the Satisfaction of the World.

However, because so many various Censures are past upon it already, and neither you nor I can foresee what misconstructions may be made of it for the future; and because some things are reported of it, which I hear, were not delivered, to your prejudice; I think you cannot do your self, nor your Sermon greater justice, than to expose it to the publick view of the world, and let it plead its

cause against all Gainsayers: By this you will have an opportunity of vindicating your Loyalty against the Ex∣ceptions of the pretended Catholicks; your Prudence a∣gainst the temporizing Politicians; and your Doctrine a∣gainst all that are resolved to write against it: And I am confident, let them begin when they will, if you need Succours, the Cause will not want those that shall assist. I am

Your Lordships most affectionate humble Servant A. Midensis.

This was followed by this second Letter.

My Lord,

I Had the Happiness to hear your last Sermon at St. Warbroughs, and find by my conversing amongst the people, that it gave general satisfaction, and has done really a great deal of good. They imagine that your Lordship by your Station and Correspondence under∣stands much of Affairs; and they generally conclude by your behaviour in that Sermon, That we are very secure in the King's Royal Word. You would hardly imagine how far this hath quieted some suspicious minds; and if your Lordship would let your self be prevailed with to make it publick, I am confident it would contribute yet more to secure the loyalty, and quiet the fears of the People: and though this may seem unnecessary to your Lordship, it being impossible any one of our Communi∣on should be disloyal without renouncing his Religion; yet give me leave to inform your Lordship, that there nei∣ther doth, nor will want those, that having nothing to

say to it, as it is, will not fail to misrepresent it: to pre∣vent therefore them, if not to satisfie your Friends, I hope you will be persuaded to comply with the request of

My Lord,

Your Lordships most humble and dutiful Servant W. King.

From these two Letters the Readers may see the sence of both Adversaries and Friends, and what effect it had on them, and especially the People; and by publishing of it, I hope at least, to get this advantage, that our Adversaries will be afraid to misrepresent future Discourses of this kind, when they see we have so ready and short a way to expose their Lies: And let them rest satisfied, that notwithstand∣ing their causless heights, and the confident brags of some of them, That our Religion shall soon be suppress'd; and the wheadles of others of them, by which they think to prevail with us, if not to come over to theirs, yet to speak nothing in confutation of it; we both dare and will justify our Selves and our Religion against all the little petty arts of Defama∣tion or Calumny they can use against us; and that we believe the chiefest of their strength consists in these.

I have only this one thing more to add, That this Sermon is printed as it was preached, without any alteration; and that it is own'd as the true sence and real expression of the thoughts and heart of the Preacher.