THE PREFACE.

BEcause the Doctrines of the Church are, as by some wittingly mis-related, so by many others ignorantly mistaken; the Author thought it might be useful for the informing of those, who are with∣held from professing Truth, only because they do not know it, not because they hate it, or prefer some secu∣lar interest before it, to draw up some brief Catholick Theses, as well negative as affirmative, extending to most of the principal Points of Controversy between the Roman and Reformed Churches. In which Theses he Professeth, 1 That there is not any thing wittingly de∣nied that is affirmed by any allowed Council. 2 Nor any thing affirmed that is in any such Council denied. Nor 3 any thing affirmed or denied here, but what, if not in Council, yet in some Catholick Writers (uncen∣sured by the Church) may be shewed to be so; and all to be bounded within such a Latitude of Opinion, as the Church indulgeth. For the more evidencing where∣of such Propositions, as he conjectured might be, by some less read and experienced, any way doubted of, whether acknowledged and received by Roman-Catho∣licks, He hath confirmed, either with the Testimonies of approved Catholick Divines, or (which might have more weight with some Readers) the Concessions of Learned Protestants; leaving only so many of these Page  [unnumbered]Theses unguarded, as he presumed their own Perspicui∣ty would secure. But here 1 The Author pretends not, that all is comprehended in these Theses which hath been delivered by Councils in all these Points, because this he thought both too tedious a Task, and needless; since the main Points are here comprised; and the intelligent Reader will discern, That many of those omitted may be readily inferred by necessary consequence from those here expressed; and since he, who in these concurs with the Church's Judgment, must needs so much reverence it, as easily in the rest to resign himself to it. Nor 2 doth he pretend, that no Catholick Author of good esteem delivers the contrary to any Proposition here set down (i. e. such of them as have not been the Determinations of Councils): For the Church herein allows a Lati∣tude of Opinions; and he thought it sufficient to his Purpose to shew, that none, to be esteemed true Sons of the Church Catholick, and right Professors of her Faith, need to be of any other Perswasion then this here de∣livered; and not that all are, or must be of it. And strange it were, for any on this account only to desert the Church, because he can produce some persons in it that hold a thing he conceives false or unreasonable; whilst the same Mother indulgeth him to hold only that which he thinks rational and true. For any therefore to gather a Body of such Testimonies (except those of Councils) against any of these Theses is labour lost; so long as he cannot produce some obligation laid upon all to conform to such Opinions, or follow such a Party; and so long as the Church equally spreads her lap to all those who think, or say, otherwise. Nay further, could he produce some Catholick Author of good repute affirm∣ing the contrary to something here said, to be the Do∣ctrine or Faith of the Church, or something here said to Page  [unnumbered]be contrary to it; yet neither is this conceived to the pur∣pose, unless his saying it is so, proves it to be so. For a learned Author, possibly, for the greater reputation of his Doctrine, may be too facile to entitle the Church to it, either as supposing it deducible, by some necessary consequence, from some Decree thereof; or as con∣tracting the words of such a Decree to a more particu∣lar sense, than the Council intended them; or indeed had light, either from Scripture, or Tradition Apostoli∣cal, precisely to determine; and sometimes so it hath hapned, that contrary opinions have both of them urged the same Church Decree (couched only in more general Expressions) as deciding the Controversy, their own way. But it is here reasonably desired; That such Conciliary Decree it self be produced and well exami∣ned; and those Authors put in the other Scale who are here shewed to maintain, that to be well consistent with, or also to be the Church's Doctrine, which some others perhaps may pronounce contrary to it. It not being the Author's Design in this Collection to shew that Ro∣man Catholicks agree in all things here said, but that none, to be true Roman Catholicks need to hold or say, any thing otherwise. By this to remove out of the way that great Scandal and Stumbling-block of well-inclined, but mis-informed Protestants, who apprehend, that such gross Errors in Faith and Manners, as no sober and ra∣tional Christian can with a good Conscience subscribe, are not only held and tolerated in the Roman Church, but also by it imposed. The Author hath also endea∣voured in these Theses to descend so far to several parti∣culars and circumstantials, as that the intelligent may easily discern them applicable to the solution of most doubts such as are material; and to the explanation of his meaning, where to some Readers seeming am∣biguous Page  [unnumbered]or obscure; and they may serve them for a Comment or Exposition on most he hath written; wherein his principal Design hath ever been (Truth always preserved) Unity, and the Peace of the Church of God: a design which can never be compleated whilst new Writings still succeed the former, till by the Di∣vine Mercy these present Dissensions arrive unto their just period.