An answer, to a little book call'd Protestancy to be embrac'd or, A new and infallible method to reduce Romanists from popery to Protestancy

SECT. II. Formal Protestants are Here∣ticks.

I Advance to his assertion in which he affirms, that we cannot say without Ignorance, Calum∣ny, and Injustice, that a Protestant is an He∣retick. First, I agree with him that an Heretick is he who denyes (viz. pertinaciously) an Article of Faith, or a revealed Verity.

Next, I ask him by what principle he proves, that a Protestant does not deny an Article of Faith or a reveal'd Truth? I suppose he will Answer, because a Protestant believes the CREED and the Holy Scripture.

I ask him further, if a Preacher now of their Congregation, should vent a Doctrine not Ortho∣dox, and should pertinaciously maintain it against his Brethren as a Truth, according to his best Judg∣ment, reveal'd in Scripture. By what principle will he convince him to be an Heretick? He'l tell you, he believes the three Creeds, and the whole Scripture, and therefore he believes this his

dogme, because the thinks he finds it in Scrip∣ture.

Is he an Heretick, because he will not submit his Judgement to his particular Brethren?

He is known to be as Learn'd as they, and of as good a Life as they. If you say this Man can't be proven to be an Heretick, that is against the Scripture, Tit. 3. v. 10. bidding us to shun an He∣retick, and consequently he may be proven to be one. If you say he is an Heretick, because he will not submit his Judgement not only to particulars, but neither to the whole Congregation, or the Church, of which he was a Member, and there∣fore is justly condemn'd by Her, according to Isai. 54. v. 17. Every Tongue that rises up against thee in Iudgment thou shall condemn, this is the Inheri∣tance of the Lords Servants.

I conclude, without Ignorance, Calumny, or Injustice, that the Protestant Luther, the Protestant Calvin, &c. were Hereticks, because they would not submit their Judgment to the whole Church of which they were Members afore they were Excom∣municated for their self Opinions.

Again, this proposition, a Protestant is not an Heretick either is an Act of Faith. or Science, or Opinion. If you say it is an Act of Faith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then, say I, 'tis false, to say that the Protestant Church is fallible: Because, if she befallible, she may de∣ny a reveal'd Truth, (and who told you she does not) and so in sensu composito of Protestancy, i. e. at the same time, that she is Protestant she may become Heretick, or be both at once Protestant and Heretick.

If you say, she is Infallible, and cannot become Heretick, I ask, how came the Romau Church, which was once as true a Church as the Protestant

Church is now, (since St. Paul saies Romans 1. v. 8. their Faith was anounc'd (or Preach'd) through the whole World,) to be fallible and He∣retick?

If you say, this proposition, a Protestant is not an Heretick, is an Act of Science, then it must re∣ly upon an evidence: No other but that of Scrip∣ture, and so it returns to an Act of Faith.

If you say 'tis an Act of Opinion only (for one of these three either an Act of Faith, of Science, or Opinion it must be) then the contrary is also probable, then its probable that a Protestant is an Heretick, and consequently it may be said without Ignorance, Calumny, or Injustice, a Protestant is an Heretick, or denyes a reveal'd Truth.